Image output apparatus using close range radio contact wherein radio contact element is attached to document on which an image is recorded

ABSTRACT

An image output apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives first information from a first radio contact element that performs a close-range radio contact; an image processing unit that forms image data of an image to be output from the first information; and an image output unit that outputs the image to an output medium from the image data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present document incorporates by reference the entire contents ofJapanese priority document, 2004-36556 filed in Japan on Feb. 13, 2004,2004-36557 filed in Japan on Feb. 13, 2004, 2004-36558 filed in Japan onFeb. 13, 2004 and 2004-36559 filed in Japan on Feb. 13, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technology for outputting an imageusing information received from a radio contact element that is attachedto a document or an output medium, preventing a leakage of informationto the outside of the apparatus or crosstalk of information within theapparatus when communicating with the radio contact element, andincreasing an added value of document information.

2) Description of the Related Art

In recent years, along wide diffusion of information technologies usingthe Internet and personal computers, business enterprises preparevarious kinds of electronic information and output the preparedinformation on paper using image output apparatuses such as copyingmachines and printers, in their intelligent manufacturing activities.Output documents are distributed to share the information at meetings orthe like, and are used for intelligent manufacturing activities.Recipients of the documents carry them home for storage as they are, orconvert the contents into image information using an image readingapparatus and keep an image file according to the Joint PhotographicExperts Group (JPEG). In order to use the information for activities,the documents are further copied, or the information stored in a JEPGimage file is directly output and is processed using a personalcomputer.

While the contents of the received document are analog information, itis preferable to convert the information into digital information toreuse or reprocess the information. The conversion of analog informationinto digital information with an optical image reading apparatus causesdegradation in the quality of the information due to physical factors ofmodulation transfer function (MTF) characteristics of lenses orcharge-coupled devices (CCDs).

When the amount of information increases after conversion into imageinformation, the information amount can be reduced by image compression.However, the compression causes degradation in image quality.

Document information contained in paper can be extracted as text data byimage processing with an optical character reader (OCR). However, thismethod has a problem in that quality of the information obtained fromthe document is degraded depending on conversion precision.

A person originally prepares electronic information using a personalcomputer, and outputs the information using a certain image outputapparatus to prepare the document. Therefore, this electronicinformation is present. Accordingly, both the output document and theelectronic information can be distributed. However, the electronicinformation must be delivered using a separate recording medium such asa flexible disk (FD), a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), or acompact disk recordable (CD-R), or with an e-mail via the Internet,which is troublesome.

In the meantime, as reported in “RFID tag for attaching information toobjects, and its application”, August 1999, Information ProcessingSociety of Japan journal, Volume 40, No. 8, pp. 846-850, a radiofrequency identification (RFID) technique for electronically holdingindividual information and non-contact transmitting this informationaccording to electromagnetic induction is developed and is started to beapplied to management of object identification.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-337426discloses the following technique. An RFID tag is attached to adocument. Image data of the document and ID (identification) informationof a person who makes copy, or ID information of a person who transmitsthe information are written into the RFID tag. With this arrangement,the image is printed and digital data is written onto paper, and whethera person is authorized to operate the transmission is determined,thereby giving permission to copy or transmit the information. However,the technique does not assume writing of plural pieces of informationinto the RFID chip, and does not describe how to selectively use desiredinformation.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-190911 discloses thefollowing technique. Copy-inhibited information is written into anon-contact memory on a recording medium, and copy inhibition procedureis taken when this information is read. This publication does not assumewriting of plural pieces of information into the non-contact memoryeither, and prohibition procedure cannot be taken when thecopy-inhibited information cannot be properly read.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-132474 discloses thefollowing technique. An optional character or information surrounded bymarks is deleted from output image information, thereby avoiding anoutput of an image within a certain range. This is based on aninstruction from a host computer or the like, and an RFID chip attachedto a document is not utilized. Therefore, it is difficult to relatecomputer instruction to individual documents.

When information is exchanged by radio using an RFID chip, this has arisk that the information is received at the outside of the apparatusduring communication. Particularly when the information recorded in theRFID chip is confidential information, this has a risk of a leakage ofthe confidential information to the outside, which is dangerous. Whenplural RFID chips are accommodated in the apparatus, crosstalk occursinside the apparatus, which has a problem that proper information cannotbe received and that an image is output based on wrong information.

According to techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open Nos. 2000-285203, 2001-287477, 2001-167237, and 2002-324224,an IC chip, an IC tag, or an IC card is embedded into paper or attachedto the surface of paper before printing. However, according to a dryelectro-photographic system currently used in a copying machine or aprinter, an image is electrically formed using a charged particlecontaining a pigment made of a resin such as a toner as a developingparticle. In electrostatically transferring the image onto the paper, ahigh voltage of 500 volts to 10 kilovolts is applied, and the IC chipcannot function due to the influence of static electricity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to solve at least the aboveproblems in the conventional technology.

An image output apparatus according to one aspect of the presentinvention includes a receiving unit that receives first information froma first radio contact element that performs a close-range radio contact;an image processing unit that forms image data of an image to be outputfrom the first information; and an image output unit that outputs theimage to an output medium from the image data.

An image output apparatus according to another aspect of the presentinvention includes a receiving unit that receives first information froma first radio contact element performs a close-range radio contact; andan image output unit that outputs an image to an output medium. Thefirst information is information concerning the output medium, and theimage output unit determines an image output condition based on theinformation concerning the output medium, and outputs the imageaccording to the output condition.

An image output apparatus according to still another aspect of thepresent invention includes a writing unit that writes information into aradio contact element that performs a close-range radio contact; and animage output unit that outputs an image to an output medium. The writingunit writes information concerning the image into the radio contactelement.

An image output apparatus according to still another aspect of thepresent invention includes a receiving unit that receives theinformation from a radio contact element that performs a close-rangeradio contact; an image processing unit that forms image data of animage to be output based on the information; an image output unit thatoutputs the image to an output medium based on the image data; and alimiting unit that limits transmission of the information from the radiocontact element.

An image output apparatus according to still another aspect of thepresent invention includes an image output unit that outputs an image toan output medium; and a writing unit that writes information concerningthe image into a radio contact element that is attached on the outputmedium and performs a radio communication. The image output apparatuslimits transmission of the information from the writing unit.

An image output apparatus according to still another aspect of thepresent invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image ona recording medium; and a radio-contact-element adding unit that adds aradio contact element, which performs a close-range radio contact, onthe recording medium immediately after the image forming unit forms theimage on the recording medium.

An image input apparatus according to still another aspect of thepresent invention includes an image reading unit that reads an imagefrom a document, and converts the image into electronic information; aninformation reading unit that reads information from a radio contactelement that is attached on the document and performs a close-rangeradio contact; an information selecting unit that selects specificinformation from among a plurality of pieces of information concerningthe document read by the information reading unit; and an imageprocessing unit that performs a conversion process for image informationread by the image reading unit based on the specific information.

An image forming apparatus according to still another aspect of thepresent invention includes an image input apparatus including an imagereading unit that reads an image from a document, and converts the imageinto electronic information; an information reading unit that readsinformation from a radio contact element that is attached on thedocument and performs a close-range radio contact; an informationselecting unit that selects specific information from among a pluralityof pieces of information concerning the document read by the informationreading unit; and an image processing unit that performs a conversionprocess for image information read by the image reading unit based onthe specific information.

An image output method according to still another aspect of the presentinvention includes receiving information from a radio contact elementattached on a document and outputting an image based on the information,by using an image output apparatus. The image output apparatus includesa receiving unit that receives information from the radio contactelement that performs a close-range radio contact; an image processingunit that forms image data of an image to be output from theinformation; and an image output unit that outputs the image to anoutput medium from the image data. The radio contact element has adirectivity, and transmission of the information from the radio contactelement to outside of the image output apparatus is limited by receivingthe information from the radio contact element in a state that the radiocontact element is disposed in a predetermined direction.

An image output method according to still another aspect of the presentinvention includes receiving information from a radio contact elementattached on a document and outputting an image based on the information,by using an image output apparatus. The image output apparatus includesa receiving unit that receives information from the radio contactelement that performs a close-range radio contact; an image processingunit that forms image data of an image to be output from theinformation; and an image output unit that outputs the image to anoutput medium from the image data. Transmission of the information fromthe radio contact element to outside of the image output apparatus islimited by limiting a communication distance of the radio contactelement.

The other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention arespecifically set forth in or will become apparent from the followingdetailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image reader according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image processing unit according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an RFID chip according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic of an image output apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention and an external network;

FIG. 6 is a schematic for illustrating an image of a document and anoutput according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic for illustrating an image of a document and anoutput according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according to aseventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according toan eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according toa ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according toa tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic for illustrating an image of a document and anoutput according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross section of a document according to the eleventhembodiment;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an image reader according to the eleventhembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a cross section of the image reader according to the eleventhembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a cross section of an image reader according to a fourteenthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according toa fifteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a cross section of the image output apparatus according tothe fifteenth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a cross section of an image output apparatus according to asixteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a cross section of an image output unit according to aseventeenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an image input apparatus according to anineteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a vertical cross section of an image reader in the imageinput apparatus shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of an image processing unit when informationto be added to document information is already stored in an RFID chip;

FIG. 24 is a schematic of an image input apparatus according to atwentieth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a cross section of an image forming apparatus having an imageinput apparatus according to a twenty-second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the image output apparatus according toa twenty-third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a vertical cross section of an overall configuration of aninternal mechanism of the output image apparatus shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a schematic of an RFID chip that is attached on paperaccording to the twenty-third embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a schematic for illustrating an operation procedure forattaching the RFID chip shown in FIG. 28 on paper;

FIG. 30 is a schematic for illustrating an operation procedure forattaching the RFID chip on paper using a sheet member;

FIG. 31 is a schematic for illustrating another operation procedure forattaching the RFID chip on paper using the sheet member;

FIG. 32 is a vertical cross section cut along a line F-F in FIG. 31 forillustrating a state that the RFID chip is fixed on paper using thesheet member;

FIG. 33 is a schematic for illustrating an operation procedure forfixing the RFID chip on paper using a sheet member having a display ofan RFID chip fixing position;

FIG. 34 is a schematic for illustrating an operation procedure forfixing the RFID chip on paper using a transparent or semi-transparentfilm for a sheet member;

FIG. 35 is a schematic of a film sheet having an antenna and a sheetmember combined together, with the antenna formed on the sheet memberfor fixing the RFID chip on paper;

FIG. 36 is a side view of the film sheet shown in FIG. 35 viewed from anarrow direction I;

FIG. 37 is a schematic for illustrating a mechanism of giving each RFIDchip on paper after forming an image and a finisher used afterward;

FIG. 38 is a schematic for illustrating another configuration of thefinisher shown in FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that pluralsheets of printing paper are superimposed;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that the RFIDchip is given to stacked sheets of paper by coating a photo-curingadhesive substance to the paper;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that the sheetsof printed paper shown in FIG. 40 are bound up in a book;

FIG. 42 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that the RFIDchip is sandwiched between the adhesive sheet and the sheets of printedpaper and they are bound up;

FIG. 43 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that the sheetsof printed paper shown in FIG. 42 are bound up in a book;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view for illustrating a state before a staplerhaving the RFID chip is pierced into stacked plural sheets of printedpaper;

FIG. 45 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that the staplerhaving the RFID chip is knocked into the sheets of printed paper and thesheets are bound up;

FIG. 46 is a cross section for illustrating a state that the staplerhaving the RFID chip is knocked into the sheets of printed paper and thesheets are bound up;

FIG. 47 is a perspective view for illustrating a state before a grommethaving the RFID chip is pierced into stacked plural sheets of printedpaper;

FIG. 48 is a cross section of a grommet shown in FIG. 47;

FIG. 49 is a cross section for illustrating a state that the grommethaving the RFID chip is knocked into the sheets of printed paper and thesheets are bound up;

FIG. 50 is a cross section of a grommet shown in FIG. 49;

FIG. 51 is a perspective view for illustrating a state before stackedplural sheets of printed paper are bound with a wire having the RFIDchip;

FIG. 52 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that the sheetsof printed paper are bound together with the wire having the RFID chip;and

FIG. 53 is a cross section for illustrating a state that the sheets ofprinted paper are bound together with the wire having the RFID chip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of an image output apparatus using a radio contactelement according to the present invention are explained in detail belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. According to the firstembodiment, an image output apparatus 10 has a function of receivingimage information from an RFID chip 20 that is attached to a document30, and outputting an image to an output medium 40 based on the imageinformation received from the RFID chip 20. When the RFID chip 20 is notattached to the document 30, the image output apparatus 10 reads theimage recorded on the document 30 and copies the image onto the outputmedium 40.

The image output apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment includesan image reader 11 that reads image information from the document 30, areceiver 12 that obtains or writes necessary information bycommunicating with the RFID chip 20 attached to the document 30, animage processing unit 13 that converts the obtained information intooutput data, and an image output unit 14 that writes the informationinto the output medium 40.

The image reader 11 reads image information from the document 30. FIG. 2is a block diagram of an image reader 11 according to the firstembodiment. The image reader 11 has a lens 51, a CCD 52, and an analogto digital (A/D) converter 53. The lens 51 optically reads imageinformation of an image recorded on the document 30, and stores the readanalog data into the CCD 52. The A/D converter 53 converts the readanalog data into digital data. This digital data is transmitted to theimage processing unit 13.

The image processing unit 13 converts the image that the receiver 12obtains from the RFID chip 20, into image data for output. FIG. 3 is ablock diagram of an image processing unit 13 according to the firstembodiment. The image processing unit 13 inputs data from an inputinterface (hereinafter, “I/F”) 131, determines and optimizes the dataaccording to a programmed image processing, and converts the data intoimage data for output.

The image output unit 14 outputs an image obtained from the image dataformed by the image processing unit 13, to the output medium 40. Theimage output unit 14 outputs the image based on an electro-photographicsystem, an inkjet system, or the like. The output medium 40 covers plainpaper, coated paper, an overhead projector (OHP) transparency or thelike.

The RFID chip 20 electronically holds information, and non-contacttransmits the information according to electromagnetic inductance. TheRFID chip 20 includes a radio communication function and a memory thatstores information.

The RFID chip 20 that is recorded with information is attached to thedocument 30. FIG. 4 is a schematic of an RFID chip 20 according to thefirst embodiment.

The RFID chip 20 mainly includes an antenna 201, a power source 203, anda memory 208. The RFID chip 20 is prepared according to a knowntechnique, and operates as follows. The antenna 201 induces a currentfrom a radio wave given from the outside, and accumulates a charge intothe power source 203. By using power obtained from the chargeaccumulated in the power source 203, information stored in the memory208 is transmitted from the antenna 201 in a radio wave. The memory canbe any one of a read-only memory and a readable-writable memory. Asemiconductor memory is usually used for the memory 208.

In general, a communication distance of the RFID chip is determinedbased on a frequency of a radio wave. A low-frequency radio wave has along communication distance, and a high-frequency radio wave has a shortcommunication distance. A low-frequency RFID chip has a large occupancycapacity and its cost is high. However, because a maximum communicationdistance is 10 meters, the low-frequency RFID chip is suitable forremote-controlled communication. On the other hand, a high-frequencyRFID chip has a short communication distance of 1 millimeter to a fewcentimeters. Because a total size of the high-frequency RFID chip can bemade small, the chip has a small occupancy capacity and can be processedin a sheet shape, which can lower cost.

The RFID chip 20 used in the present invention does not requireremote-controlled communication, and therefore, an RFID chip usinghigh-frequency radio wave is preferable. A communication distance of theRFID chip 20 that can be preferably used is less than a few millimeters.Employment of this type of RFID chip takes into account small powerconsumption, avoidance of crosstalk, and compactness. Because of a smallsize, this RFID chip can be suitably fitted to a sheet object.

According to the first embodiment, the RFID chip 20 is attached to thedocument 30.

The electronic information stored in the RFID chip 20 is an imagerecorded on the document 30 to which the RFID chip 20 is attached. Thiselectronic information includes image data stored in a JPEG file or aBasic Multilingual Plane (BMP) file, or electronic information generallyused in a Portable Document Format (PDF) file or a Hyper Text MarkupLanguage (HTML) file.

The receiver 12 receives electronic information of an image recorded onthe document, from the RFID chip 20. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1,the RFID chip 20 attached to the document 30 is brought closer to thereceiver 12, thereby receiving the electronic information from the RFIDchip 20. The receiver 12 transmits the received electronic informationof the image to the image processing unit 13.

The image processing unit 13 converts the electronic information of theimage received from the receiver 12 into image data for output, andtransmits the image data for output to the image output unit 14. Theimage output unit 14 receives the image data from the image processingunit 13, and outputs the image to the output medium 40.

Conventionally, the image reader 11 according to optical reading is usedto convert analog document information into digital information. Inoptically converting document information by reading the image, physicalfactors such as the lens 51 and MTF characteristic of the CCD 52 areinvolved as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, it is unavoidable that thequality of electronic information obtained by A/D converting thedocument information with the A/D converter 53 is lower than that of thedocument information.

On the other hand, according to the first embodiment, the electronicinformation received from the FFID chip 20 attached to the document 30is directly output. Therefore, it is possible to prevent qualitydegradation due to conversion of the document information into digitalinformation. Accordingly, a high-definition image can be formed on theoutput medium 40.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of an image output apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention and an external network. Constituentelements having the same configurations as those of the image outputapparatus according to the first embodiment are designated with likereference signs, and their explanation is omitted.

The image output apparatus according to the second embodiment includes acommunication controller 15 that can transmit and receive information,and a large-capacity memory 16 having a hard disk drive (HDD) or thelike.

The communication controller 15 is connected to the receiver 12 and thelarge-capacity memory 16. The communication controller 15 is alsoconnected to the Internet 61, and exchanges information with an externalserver 63 via a local area network (LAN) 62.

According to the second embodiment, the RFID chip 20 is recorded withinformation that indicates location of electronic information of animage recorded on the document 30 to which the RFID chip 20 is attached,that is location information of the electronic information to be output.The location information of the electronic information is Internetaddress information, for example. The receiver 12 receives the locationinformation of the electronic information to be output, from the RFIDchip 20, and transmits the received location information to thecommunication controller 15.

When the electronic information to be output is present in the externalserver 63 connected to the Internet 61, the communication controller 15accesses the external server 63 via the LAN 62, thereby obtaining theelectronic information to be output. When the electronic information tobe output is present in the local large-capacity memory 16, thecommunication controller 15 obtains the electronic information to beoutput, from the large-capacity memory 16.

The communication controller 15 transmits the received electronicinformation of the image to the image processing unit 13. The imageprocessing unit 13 receives the electronic information of the image fromthe receiver 12, converts the electronic information into image data,and transmits the image data to the image output unit 14. The imageoutput unit 14 receives the image data from the image processing unit13, and outputs the image to the output medium 40.

According to the configuration in the second embodiment, the electronicinformation that the communication controller 15 receives from theexternal server 63 or the large-capacity memory 16 can be stored ordisplayed in other image output apparatus, a personal computer, or otherstorage 64 that is connected to the LAN 62.

According to the configuration in the first embodiment, the electronicinformation stored in the RFID chip 20 needs to own the electronicinformation to be output. Therefore, the capacity of the memory thatstores information in the RFID chip 20 becomes large, which results in alarge memory of the RFID chip 20 at high cost. On the other hand,according to the configuration in the second embodiment, the RFID chip20 stores only location information of the electronic information to beoutput. The electronic information to be output is obtained from theexternal server 63 or the connected large-capacity memory 16, and ahigh-definition image can be formed on the output medium 40.Accordingly, the memory capacity of the RFID chip 20 can be minimized,thereby making the RFID chip 20 compact and lowering its cost.

A third embodiment of the present invention is a modification of thefirst embodiment. When the image recorded on the document 30approximately coincides with the electronic information of the imagerecorded in the RFID chip 20, the electronic information received fromthe RFID chip 20 is output. There is a possibility that wronginformation is recorded in the RFID chip 20, however, according to thethird embodiment, the electronic information received from the RFID chip20 is not used, thereby avoiding in advance a printing of an image basedon the wrong information. The configuration of an image formingapparatus according to the third embodiment is similar to that of theimage output apparatus according to the first embodiment, and therefore,explanation of the configuration is omitted.

According to the third embodiment, the electronic information stored inthe RFID chip 20 is the image recorded on the document 30 to which theRFID chip 20 is attached, like in the first embodiment. The receiver 12receives the electronic information of the image recorded on thedocument 30 from the RFID chip 20. The receiver 12 transmits thereceived electronic information of the image to the image processingunit 13.

The image reader 11 optically reads the image information of the imagerecorded on the document 30, and converts the analog documentinformation into digital information.

The image processing unit 13 receives the digital data of the documentfrom the image reader 11, and also receives the electronic informationobtained from the RFID chip 20, from the receiver 12. The imageprocessing unit 13 compares the digital data of the document with theelectronic information obtained from the RFID chip 20. When the digitaldata and the electronic information approximately coincide with eachother, the image processing unit 13 determines that the electronicinformation recorded in the RFID chip 20 is correct data.

When it is determined that the electronic information recorded in theRFID chip 20 is correct data, the image processing unit 13 converts theelectronic information of the image received from the receiver 12 intoimage data for output, and transmits the image data to the image outputunit 14. On the other hand, when it is determined that the electronicinformation recorded in the RFID chip 20 is not correct data, the imageprocessing unit 13 forms image data for output from the digital data ofthe document, and transmits the image data to the image output unit 14.The image output unit 14 receives the image data from the imageprocessing unit 13, and outputs the image to the output medium 40.

According to the third embodiment, the image is output from theelectronic information obtained from the RFID chip 20, after confirmingthat the electronic information obtained from the RFID chip 20 coincideswith the image of the document. Therefore, a high-definition image canbe formed on the output medium, and a printing of an image based onwrong information can be prevented in advance.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, an imageoutput apparatus reads the image recorded on the document 30, andoutputs the image to an output medium. The electronic information storedin the RFID chip 20 is configuration information of the image describedin the document 30 to which the RFID chip 20 is attached. The image isread from the document in an optimum reading condition, and is outputafter the image is processed appropriately. According to the fourthembodiment, the image recorded on the document 30 is read to copy thedocument 30. Because the configuration of the document 30 to be read canbe known beforehand, the image can be read in the optimum readingcondition. The configuration of the image forming apparatus according tothe fourth embodiment is similar to that of the image output apparatusaccording to the first embodiment, and therefore, explanation of theconfiguration is omitted.

According to the fourth embodiment, the configuration information of theimage recorded in the RFID chip 20 is arrangement of text and images inthe document 30, an image processing method such as halftonereproduction and line screens, number of lines, color scheme informationof text, tables, and graphs, etc.

The receiver 12 receives the configuration information of the imagerecorded on the document 30 from the RFID chip 20. The receiver 12transmits the received image configuration information to both the imagereader 11 and the image processing unit 13.

The image reader 11 reads the image information from the document 30 inthe optimum reading condition, following the configuration informationof the document 30, and transmits the read image information to theimage processing unit 13.

The image processing unit 13 receives the image information from theimage reader 11. The image processing unit 13 processes the imageinformation read by the image reader 11, following the configurationinformation of the image of the document 30, thereby forming image datato be output.

Conventionally, configuration information of the image described in thedocument 30 is not present. After reading the image, the image reader 11determines and optimizes the image according to the programmed imageprocessing, as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, when the document includescomplex text and images, types of images are recognized in error, and itis difficult to optimize the image formation at all times.

On the other hand, according to the fourth embodiment, when theelectronic information stored in the RFID chip 20 is received, theconfiguration of the document 30 to be read can be known in advance.Therefore, the image reader 11 can read the image in the optimum readingcondition, following the configuration information of the read document30. Accordingly, the document 30 can be read in the optimum condition,and the image processing unit 13 can process the image in the optimumcondition, thereby obtaining proper digital information and obtaining ahigh-definition copy output.

According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, an imageoutput apparatus reads the image recorded on the document 30, andoutputs the read image to an output medium. The electronic informationstored in the RFID chip 20 is image information corresponding toconfidential information contained in the image recorded on the document30. By removing the confidential information described in the document30, only the information that is not necessarily confidential is copied.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, when it is necessary to deliver a copyof the document 30 to the other party as a result of businessnegotiation, for example, confidential information 31 contained in thedocument 30 can be excluded from the copy. The configuration of an imageforming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment is similar to thatof the image output apparatus according to the first embodiment, andtherefore, explanation of the configuration is omitted.

According to the fifth embodiment, the document 30 contains theconfidential information 31 in the image as shown in FIG. 6. The RFIDchip 20 attached to the document 30 stores information that specifies aposition where the confidential information 31 is described, informationthat substitutes the confidential information 31, and information thatindicates location of the information that substitutes the configurationinformation.

When an operator brings the document 30 close to the image reader 11,the receiver 12 obtains the electronic information from the RFID chip 20attached to the document 30 at the same time as when the image reader 11reads the document. The receiver 12 transmits both the image informationof the document and the electronic information received from the RFIDchip 20, to the image processing unit 13.

The image processing unit 13 deletes the confidential information 31from the image information obtained from the image reader 11 orsubstitutes the confidential information 31 with other information thatis not necessarily confidential, based on the information obtained fromthe RFID chip 20, thereby forming the image data to be output, andtransmits the image data to the image output unit 14. The informationthat is not necessarily confidential is public information 41 that isalready made public, for example. The image output unit 14 outputs thereceived image data on paper. Accordingly, the image excluding theconfidential information 31 from the image described in the document canbe output to the output medium 40.

Conventionally, in outputting an image that excludes confidentialinformation from the document containing the confidential information,an operator hides the confidential information part by filling or thelike at an image reading stage. According to the fifth embodiment, sucha procedure is not necessary.

According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, an imageoutput apparatus reads an image recorded on the document 30, and outputsthe image to an output medium. The electronic information stored in theRFID chip 20 is information not recorded on the document 30, and animage added with the image not recorded on the document 30 is output.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, latest information 42 that cannot beinserted at the time of preparing the document 30 is obtained in realtime and added, and this image is output. This method can beappropriately used when an output containing the confidentialinformation 43 as additional information to the document is necessary,although the document does not contain the confidential information 43.The configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the sixthembodiment is similar to that of the image output apparatus according tothe first embodiment, and therefore, explanation of the configuration isomitted.

According to the sixth embodiment, the RFID chip 20 attached to thedocument 30 stores electronic information of an image to be added to thedocument, information concerning a position to which the electronicinformation is to be added, and information indicating location of theelectronic information to be added. The output information contains theinformation that is not inserted in the document 30 as shown in FIG. 7.

When an operator brings the document 30 close to the image reader 11,the receiver 12 obtains the electronic information from the RFID chip 20attached to the document 30 at the same time as when the image reader 11reads the document. The receiver 12 transmits both the image informationof the document and the electronic information received from the RFIDchip 20, to the image processing unit 13.

The image processing unit 13 adds the image information obtained fromthe RFID chip 20 to the image information obtained from the image reader11, thereby combining the image data, and transmits the image data tothe image output unit 14. The image output unit 14 outputs the receivedimage data on paper. According to the sixth embodiment, outputinformation that contains the latest information 42 and the confidentialinformation 43 in addition to the document information can be obtained.

According to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, an imageoutput apparatus reads an image recorded on the document 30, and outputsthe image to an output medium. The image is output in a conditionsuitable for the output medium 40, thereby obtaining a high-definitionimage output. The output medium 40 includes various kinds of mediums,each having an optimum image processing condition and an image outputcondition different from each other. The RFID chip 20 stores informationrelated to the output medium 40. By reading this information, an optimumimage processing condition and an image output condition are set to theoutput medium 40, thereby outputting a high-definition image.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according tothe seventh embodiment. Constituent elements having the sameconfigurations as those of the image output apparatus according to thefirst embodiment are designated with like reference signs, and theirexplanation is omitted. The image output apparatus according to theseventh embodiment includes a medium storage 17 that accommodates theoutput medium 40.

According to the seventh embodiment, the RFID chip 20 is attached to theoutput medium 40 or a packaging material that packs the output medium40. When the RFID chip 20 is attached to the output medium 40, areceiver 121 that receives information from the RFID chip 20 is disposednear a route through which the output medium 40 is conveyed from themedium storage 17 accommodating the output medium 40 to the image outputunit 14. When the RFID chip 20 is attached to the packaging materialthat packs the output medium 40, the receiver 121 is disposed near themedium storage 17 that accommodates the output medium 40.

According to the seventh embodiment, the information recorded in theRFID chip 20 is a kind and a thickness of the output medium 40, anoptimum image processing condition and an optimum output condition forthe output medium 40. Particularly when an image forming process is anelectro-photographic process, a kind and a thickness of the outputmedium are important control factors in a fixing process. In order toobtain a proper output, after the image is output, it is necessary tocontrol a nip time and a fixing temperature in the fixing. In an imageforming process according to an inkjet system, it is necessary tocontrol a liquid injection volume and an image processing method forcoated paper and plain paper, respectively.

When an operator brings the document 30 closer to the image reader 11,the image reader 11 reads the document, and transmits the imageinformation of the document to the image processing unit 13. Thereceiver 121 receives information concerning the output medium 40 fromthe RFID chip 20 that is attached to the output medium 40 or thepackaging material that packs the output medium 40, and transmits thereceived information to both the image processing unit 13 and the imageoutput unit 14.

The image processing unit 13 carries out an optimum processing to theimage information obtained from the image reader 11, based on theinformation concerning the output medium 40, thereby forming image data,and outputs the image data to the image output unit 14. The image outputunit 14 outputs the image data on paper in an optimum output condition,based on the information concerning the output medium 40. According tothe seventh embodiment, the image processed in the optimum condition canbe output to the output medium 40 in the optimum output condition.Therefore, the image can be output in high definition.

Conventionally, the operator instructs an output medium to the imageoutput apparatus, and obtains an output image according to the imageforming process suitable for the instruction. However, depending on theoperator's instruction, an inappropriate image output is obtained.According to the present invention, the RFID chip 20 stores informationconcerning the output medium 40. By reading this information, an optimumimage processing condition and an optimum image output condition can beset, thereby securely obtaining a proper image output.

According to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, an imageoutput apparatus outputs data received from an external apparatus. Theimage is output in a condition suitable for the output medium 40,thereby obtaining a high-definition image output.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according tothe eighth embodiment. According to the eighth embodiment, the imageoutput apparatus 10 includes the receiver 121 that receives informationconcerning an output medium from the RFID chip 20, the image processingunit 13 that receives image information of the output image from anexternal apparatus 70 such as a personal computer and forms image datafor output, the image output unit 14 that outputs the image based on theimage data, and the medium storage 17 that accommodates the outputmedium 40.

According to the eighth embodiment, the RFID chip 20 is attached to theoutput medium 40 or a packaging material that packs the output medium40. The RFID chip 20 stores a kind and a thickness of the output medium40, an optimum image processing condition for the output medium 40, andan optimum image output condition.

According to the eighth embodiment, a file prepared by the externalapparatus 70 such as a personal computer is output. The image processingunit 13 receives the image information of the output image from theexternal apparatus 70.

The receiver 121 receives the information concerning the output medium40 from the RFID chip 20 that is attached to the output medium 40 or thepackaging material that packs the output medium 40, and transmits theinformation to both the image processing unit 13 and the image outputunit 14.

The image processing unit 13 carries out an optimum processing to theimage information obtained from the external apparatus 70, based on theinformation concerning the output medium 40, thereby forming image data,and outputs the image data to the image output unit 14. The image outputunit 14 outputs the image data on paper in an optimum output condition,based on the information concerning the output medium 40. According tothe eighth embodiment, the image processed in the optimum condition canbe output to the output medium 40 in the optimum output condition.Therefore, the image can be output in high definition.

Conventionally, an operator instructs an output medium to the imageoutput apparatus, and obtains an output image according to the imageforming process suitable for the instruction. However, depending on theoperator's instruction, an inappropriate image output is obtained.According to the present invention, the RFID chip 20 stores informationconcerning the output medium 40. By reading this information, an optimumimage processing condition and an optimum image output condition can beset, thereby securely obtaining a proper image output.

According to a ninth embodiment of the present invention, an imageoutput apparatus outputs data received from an external apparatus. Theimage output apparatus writes information concerning an image that isoutput to the RFID chip attached to the output medium 40.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according tothe ninth embodiment. According to the ninth embodiment, the imageoutput apparatus 10 includes the image processing unit 13 that receivesinformation from the external apparatus 70 and forms image data foroutput, the image output unit 14 that outputs an image based on theimage data, a writing unit 122 that writes the information received bythe image processing unit 13 from the external apparatus 70 into an RFIDchip 21, and the medium storage 17 that accommodates the output medium40. The medium storage 17 accommodates the output medium 40 attachedwith the RFID chip 21 into which information can be written by radiocommunication.

According to the ninth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, in outputting afile prepared by the external apparatus 70, the writing unit 122receives information concerning the image output from the imageprocessing unit 13, and writes the information concerning the outputimage, into the RFID chip 21 that is attached to the output medium 40.The information concerning the output image can include electronicinformation of an output document, information indicating location ofthe electronic information, information concerning an image processingmethod and colors used for output, and logs concerning the output suchas an output date and time, a place, an operator who outputs the image,and a number of sheets of output paper.

The writing unit 122 can write information either before or after theimage output unit 14 outputs the image.

According to the ninth embodiment, when the output of the image is to beused as a document, a high-definition output can be obtained by readingthe information from the RFID chip 21 attached to the output andreflecting the read image to the output image. An added value of theoutput to be used at the next step can be increased.

According to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, an imageoutput apparatus outputs data received from an external apparatus. Theimage output apparatus writes information concerning an image that isoutput to the RFID chip. This RFID chip is attached to the output medium40.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according tothe tenth embodiment. According to the tenth embodiment, the imageoutput apparatus 10 includes the image processing unit 13 that receivesinformation from the external apparatus 70 and forms image data foroutput, the image output unit 14 that outputs an image based on theimage data, the writing unit 122 that writes the information received bythe image processing unit 13 from the external apparatus 70 into an RFIDchip 21, an RFID chip adding unit 123 that attaches the RFID chip 21,into which the information is written by the writing unit 122, to theoutput medium 40, and the medium storage 17 that accommodates the outputmedium 40.

According to the tenth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, in outputting afile prepared by the external apparatus 70 such as a personal computer,the writing unit 122 receives information concerning the image outputfrom the image processing unit 13, and writes the information concerningthe output image, into the RFID chip 21 by radio communication. Theinformation concerning the output image can include electronicinformation of the output image, information indicating location of theelectronic information, information concerning an image processingmethod and colors used for output, and logs concerning the output suchas an output date and time, a place, an operator who outputs the image,and a number of sheets of output paper.

The RFID chip adding unit attaches the RFID chip 21, into which thisinformation is written, to the output medium 40. The RFID chip 21 can beattached either before or after the image output unit 14 outputs theimage.

According to the tenth embodiment, when the output of the image is to beused as a document, a high-definition output can be obtained by readingthe information from the RFID chip 21 attached to the output andreflecting the read image to the output image. An added value of theoutput to be used at the next step can be increased.

FIG. 12 is a schematic for illustrating an image of a document and anoutput according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. Theimage output apparatus 10 receives information from the RFID chip 20attached to the document 30, by radio communication, determines anoutput image based on the information, and outputs the output image tothe output medium 40. When the RFID chip 20 is not attached to thedocument 30, the image output apparatus 10 reads the image described inthe document 30, and copies the image to the output medium 40.

According to the eleventh embodiment, the image output apparatus 10receives information from the RFID chip 21 attached to the output medium40, by radio communication, and outputs the image in a conditionsuitable for the output medium 40. When the RFID chip 21 is not attachedto the output medium 40, the image is output in an initial condition orin a condition set by an operator.

The RFID chips 20 and 21 according to the eleventh embodiment areexplained. The RFID chips 20 and 21 electronically hold information, andnon-contact transmit the information according to electromagneticinductance. The RFID chips 20 and 21 include a radio communicationfunction and a memory that stores information. In the explanation below,signs 20 and 21 are referred to only as RFID chips. FIG. 4 is the blockdiagram of the configuration of the RFID chip 20. The RFID chip 20 (theRFID chip 20 has the same configuration) mainly includes the antenna201, the power source 203, and the memory 208. The RFID chips 20 and 21are provided according to a known technique, and have the followingoperation. The antenna 201 induces a current from a radio wave givenfrom the outside, and accumulates a charge into the power source 203. Byusing power obtained from the charge accumulated in the power source203, information stored in the memory 208 is transmitted from theantenna 201 in a radio wave. The memory 208 can be any one of aread-only memory and a readable-writable memory. A semiconductor memoryis usually used for the memory 208.

In general, a communication distance of the RFID chip is determinedbased on a frequency of a radio wave. A low-frequency radio wave has along communication distance, and a high-frequency radio wave has a shortcommunication distance. A low-frequency RFID chip has a large occupancycapacity and its cost is high. However, because a maximum communicationdistance is 10 meters, the low-frequency RFID chip is suitable forremote-controlled communication. On the other hand, a high-frequencyRFID chip has a short communication distance of 1 millimeter to a fewcentimeters. Because a total size of the high-frequency RFID chip can bemade small, the chip has a small occupancy capacity and can be processedin a sheet shape, which can lower cost.

According to the eleventh embodiment, in order to avoid a leakage ofinformation stored in the RFID chip 20 to the outside of the apparatusat the time of radio communication, the RFID chip 20 having directivityis attached to the document 30.

FIG. 13 is a cross section of a document 30 according to the eleventhembodiment. An image is recorded on the surface of the document 30. InFIG. 13, a reference numeral 80 denotes a shielding member, which isadhered to the surface of the document 30. The RFID chip 20 is attachedto the top of the shielding member 80. According to the eleventhembodiment, the RFID chip 20 is fixed to the surface of the document 30via the shielding member 80, thereby providing the RFID chip 20 withdirectivity. Among a radio wave transmitted from the RFID chip 20, theradio wave transmitted toward the reverse side of the document 30 isinterrupted by the shielding member 80. Therefore, the radio wavetransmitted from the RFID chip 20 is directed to only the front side,and is not directed to the reverse side.

As shown in FIG. 12, according to the eleventh embodiment, the imageoutput apparatus 10 includes the image reader 11 that reads imageinformation from the document 30, the receiver 12 that obtains necessaryinformation by communicating with the RFID chip 20 attached to thedocument 30, the receiver 121 that obtains necessary information bycommunicating with the RFID chip 21 attached to the output medium 40,the image processing unit 13 that converts the image information intodata for output, the image output unit 14 that writes information intothe output medium 40, the communication controller 15 that exchangesinformation via the network, the large-capacity memory 16, and themedium storage 17 that accommodates the output medium 40.

The image reader 11 reads the image information from the document 30.FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an image reader 11 according to theeleventh embodiment. The image reader 11 has the lens 51, the CCD 52,and the A/D converter 53. The lens 51 optically reads image informationof an image recorded on the document 30, and stores the read analog datainto the CCD 52. The A/D converter 53 converts the read analog data intodigital data. This digital data is transmitted to the image processingunit 13.

The image processing unit 13 converts the image that the receiver 12obtains from the RFID chip 20 or the image processing unit 13, intoimage data for output. FIG. 3 is the block diagram of the configurationof the image processing unit 13. The image processing unit 13 inputsdata from the input I/F 131, determines and optimizes the data accordingto a programmed image processing, converts the data into image data foroutput; and transmits the image data to the image output unit 14.

The image output unit 14 outputs the image based on the image dataformed by the image processing unit 13. The image output unit 14 outputsthe image based on an electro-photographic system, an inkjet system, orthe like. The output medium 40 covers plain paper, coated paper, an OHPsheet or the like.

The communication controller 15 is connected to the Internet 61, andexchanges information with the external server 63 via the LAN 62. Thecommunication controller 15 controls exchanges of information with thelarge-capacity memory 16. The communication controller 15 receivesinformation from the receiver 12, and obtains information relevant tothe information received from the receiver 12, from the Internet 61 orthe large-capacity memory 16.

FIG. 15 is a cross section of the image reader 11 according to theeleventh embodiment. In FIG. 15, the document 30 recorded with the imageis faced downward, and is disposed at a predetermined reading positionof the image reader 11. When the operator sets the document 30 to thepredetermined reading position and presses a start button, the receiver12 transmits a radio wave. The RFID chip 20 set to the document 30induces a current in the antenna 201 from the radio wave given from thereceiver 12, and accumulates a charge into the power source 203. Byusing power obtained from the charge accumulated in the power source203, the RFID chip 20 transmits information stored in the memory 208from the antenna 201 using the radio wave. The receiver 12 receives theinformation from the RFID chip 20. During the communication, theshielding member 80 interrupts the radio wave transmitted from the RFIDchip 20 toward the reverse side of the document 30. Therefore, theinformation can be prevented from being leaked to the outside.

The image processing unit 13 forms image data of an image to be outputaccording to the information received from the RFID chip 20, by usingthis information.

For example, when the information received from the RFID chip 20 iselectronic information of the image to be output, the receiver 12transmits the information received from the RFID chip 20, directly tothe image processing unit 13. The electronic information of the image tobe output includes image data stored in a JPEG file or a BMP file, orelectronic information generally used in a PDF file or an HTML file. Theimage processing unit 13 converts the electronic information of theimage received from the receiver 12 into imaged data for output, andtransmits the image data to the image output unit 14. When theinformation received from the RFID chip 20 is the electronic informationof the image for output, the image can be directly output from thereceived electronic information. Therefore, it is possible to preventquality degradation due to the conversion of the document informationinto digital information. Accordingly, a high-definition image can beformed on the output medium 40.

When the information received from the RFID chip 20 is locationinformation of the electronic information for output, the receiver 12transmits the received location information to the communicationcontroller 15. When the electronic information to be output is in theexternal server 63 on the Internet 61, the communication controller 15accesses the external server 63 via the LAN 62, and obtains theelectronic information to be output. When the electronic information tobe output is present in the local large-capacity memory 16, thecommunication controller 15 obtains the electronic information to beoutput, from the large-capacity memory 16. The communication controller15 transmits the received electronic information of the image to theimage processing unit 13. The image processing unit 13 receives theelectronic information of the image from the receiver 12, converts theelectronic information into image data, and transmits the image data tothe image output unit 14. When the information received from the RFIDchip 20 is location information of the electronic information foroutput, the electronic information to be output is obtained from theexternal server 63 or the connected large-capacity memory 16. Therefore,a high-definition image can be formed on the output medium 40. Becauseonly the location information of the output image is recorded in theRFID chip 20, the memory capacity of the RFID chip 20 can be minimized,thereby making the RFID chip 20 compact and lowering its cost.

When the information received from the RFID chip 20 is configurationinformation of the image described in the document 30, the receiver 12transmits the received configuration information to both the imagereader 11 and the image processing unit 13. The configurationinformation of the image refers to arrangement of text and images in thedocument 30, an image processing method such as halftone reproductionand line screens, number of lines, color scheme information of text,tables, and graphs, etc. The image reader 11 reads the image informationfrom the document 30 in an optimum reading condition according to theconfiguration information of the document 30, and transmits the readimage information to the image processing unit 13. The image processingunit 13 processes the image information read by the image reader 11,following the configuration information of the image of the document 30,thereby forming the image data to be output. When the informationreceived from the RFID chip 20 is the configuration information of theimage described in the document 30, the configuration of the document 30to be read can be known in advance. Therefore, the image reader 11 canread the image information in an optimum reading condition following theconfiguration information of the document 30 to be read. When thedocument includes complex text and images, types of images arerecognized in error, and it is difficult to optimize the image formationat all times. However, the image processing unit 13 can process theimage in an optimum condition following the configuration information ofthe document 30 to be read. Accordingly, the document 30 can be read inthe optimum condition, and the image processing unit 13 can process theimage in the optimum condition, thereby obtaining proper digitalinformation and obtaining a high-definition copy output.

When the information received from the RFID chip 20 is information ofthe image corresponding to confidential information contained in theimage recorded on the document 30, the image processing unit 13 deletesthe confidential information 31 from the image information obtained fromthe image reader 11 or substitutes the confidential information 31 withother information that is not necessarily confidential, thereby formingthe image data to be output, and transmits the image data to the imageoutput unit 14. The information that is not necessarily confidential isthe public information 41 that is already made public, for example. Whenthe document 30 contains the confidential information 31 as shown inFIG. 6, the output image that excludes this confidential information 31or substitutes this confidential information with the public information41 can be obtained.

When the information received from the RFID chip 20 cannot be insertedinto the document 30 at the time of preparing the document, the imageprocessing unit 13 forms the image data added with the information, andtransmits the image data to the image output unit 14. The informationthat cannot be inserted at the time of preparing the document 30 refersto confidential information and latest information such as real timeinformation. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the latest information 42that cannot be inserted at the time of preparing the document 30 isobtained in real time and added, and this image is output. Thisconfidential information 43 can be added to the document when necessary,although the document does not contain the confidential information 43.

When the RFID chip 20 is not attached to the document 30, the imagereader 11 reads the image information from the document 30, converts theread analog information into digital information, and transmits thedigital information to the image processing unit 13. The imageprocessing unit 13 forms the image data to be output from the receiveddigital data, and transmits the digital data to the image output unit14.

When the RFID chip 21 recorded with information concerning the outputmedium 40 is attached to the output medium 40, the receiver 121 obtainsthis information from the RFID chip 21 by radio communication, andtransmits the information to the image output unit 14. The informationrecorded in the RFID chip 21 is a kind and a thickness of the outputmedium 40, an optimum image processing condition and an optimum outputcondition for the output medium 40. Particularly when an image formingprocess is an electro-photographic process, a kind and a thickness ofthe output medium are important control factors in a fixing process. Inorder to obtain a proper output, after the image is output, it isnecessary to control a nip time and a fixing temperature in the fixing.In an image forming process according to an inkjet system, it isnecessary to control a liquid injection volume and an image processingmethod for coated paper and plain paper, respectively. The output medium40 includes various kinds of mediums, each having an optimum imageprocessing condition and an image output condition different from eachother. The RFID chip 20 stores information related to the output medium40. By describing information concerning the output medium 40 in theRFID chip 21, and by reading this information, an optimum imageprocessing condition and an image output condition are set to the outputmedium 40, thereby outputting a high-definition image.

The image output unit 14 sets an output condition following theinformation concerning the output medium 40 received from the RFID chip21, and outputs the image data formed by the image processing unit 13 tothe output medium 40.

As explained above, according to the eleventh embodiment, of the radiowave transmitted from the RFID chip 20, the radio wave directed to thereverse side of the document 30 is interrupted by the shielding member80, and this radio wave does not reach the reverse side. Accordingly,the radio wave transmitted from the RFID chip 20 can be prevented frombeing received at the outside of the apparatus, thereby preventing theleakage of the information to the outside. Further, crosstalk inside theapparatus can be prevented.

According to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, acommunication distance of the RFID chip 20 attached to the document 30and a communication distance of the RFID chip 21 attached to the outputmedium 40 are limited, respectively. A configuration of an image outputapparatus according to the present embodiment is similar to that of theimage output apparatus according to the first embodiment, and therefore,explanation of the configuration is omitted.

When a communication distance of the RFID chip is long, crosstalk occursbetween this RFID chip and the RFID chip 21 attached to printed paper instorage or printed paper that is being output. Further, information isleaked to the outside of the image output apparatus. According to thetwelfth embodiment, by limiting the communication distance of the RFIDchips 20 and 21, respectively, crosstalk or leakage of information tothe outside can be prevented. A communication distance is determinedbased on a frequency of a radio wave, and the communication distancebecomes shorter when the frequency is higher. According to the presentembodiment, the radio wave has a high frequency, thereby shortening acommunication distance, which lowers power consumption. According to thetwelfth embodiment, a communication distance of the RFID chips 20 and 21is preferably 1 millimeter to a few centimeters.

As explained above, according to the twelfth embodiment, by limiting thecommunication distance of the RFID chip 20 attached to the document 30and the communication distance of the RFID chip 21 attached to theoutput medium 40, respectively, reception of a radio wave at the outsideof the apparatus can be prevented, and leakage of information to theoutside can be prevented. Further, crosstalk within the apparatus can beprevented. Because the RFID chips based on a high-frequency radio waveare used, cost of the RFID chips can be decreased and power consumptioncan be reduced.

According to a thirteenth embodiment, in order to prevent a radio wavetransmitted from the RFID chip 20 attached to the document 30 from beingreceived at the outside of the apparatus, a communication timecontroller that controls the communication time of the RFID chip 20 isprovided in the image output apparatus 10. The communication timecontroller (not shown) is incorporated inside the receiver 12 of theimage output apparatus 10. A configuration of the image output apparatusaccording to the present embodiment is similar to that of the imageoutput apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment, and therefore,explanation of the configuration is omitted.

The operation of the image output apparatus according to the thirteenthembodiment is explained below. First, an operator sets the document 30to a predetermined reading position, and presses a start button.

The communication time controller incorporated in the receiver 12transmits a radio wave to the receiver 12 for only a predetermined timeafter the start button is pressed. The RFID chip 20 induces a current inthe antenna 201 shown in FIG. 4 from the radio wave given from thereceiver 12, and accumulates a charge into the power source 203. Byusing power obtained from the charge accumulated in the power source203, information stored in the memory 208 is transmitted from theantenna 201 in a radio wave. The receiver 12 receives the radio wavetransmitted from the antenna 201, thereby receiving the informationrecorded in the RFID chip 20.

The image output apparatus 10 outputs a value-added image according tothe information received from the RFID chip 20, by using thisinformation.

As explained above, according to the thirteenth embodiment, thecommunication time controller incorporated in the receiver 12 controlsthe communication time between the receiver 12 and the RFID chip 20.Therefore, the communication time, during which there is a risk ofreception of information at the outside of the apparatus, can beminimized. Accordingly, a risk of leakage of information to the outsidecan be reduced, and power consumption of the receiver 12 can be reduced.

A fourteenth embodiment of the present invention is a modification ofthe thirteenth embodiment. A communication time between the RFID chip 20and the receiver 12 is determined based on read information in the imagereader. A configuration of an image output apparatus according to thepresent embodiment is similar to that of the image output apparatusaccording to the eleventh embodiment except the image reader 11, andtherefore, explanation of the configuration is omitted.

FIG. 16 is a cross section of an image reader 11 according to thefourteenth embodiment. According to the fourteenth embodiment, the imagereader 11 has a pair of conveyer rollers 111 that convey the document 30to a predetermined reading position, and a sensor 112 provided on aconveyer line of the document 30.

When the operator inserts the document into a document inserting part(not shown), the conveyer roller 11 start rotating, and the document 30is sandwiched between the pair of conveyer roller 111 and is conveyed toa predetermined reading position.

When the sensor 112 incorporated in the image reader 11 confirms theconveyance of the document 30, the communication time controllerdetermines that the receiver 12 is sufficiently close to the RFID chip20 attached to the document 30. The communication time controllertransmits a radio wave to the receiver 12 for only a predetermined timeafter the sensor 112 confirms the document 30. The RFID chip 20 inducesa current in the antenna 201 shown in FIG. 4 from the radio wave givenfrom the receiver 12, and accumulates a charge into the power source203. By using power obtained from the charge accumulated in the powersource 203, information stored in the memory 208 is transmitted from theantenna 201 in a radio wave. The receiver 12 receives the radio wavetransmitted from the antenna 201, thereby receiving the informationrecorded in the RFID chip 20.

According to the fourteenth embodiment, the communication timecontroller incorporated in the receiver 12 enables the receiver 12 andthe RFID chip 20 to communicate each other after the document 30 isconveyed to a predetermined position of the image reader 11. Therefore,the receiver 12 and the RFID chip 20 can communicate each other in astate that they are sufficiently close to each other. At the same time,a time during which there is a risk of reception of information at theoutside of the apparatus can be minimized. Accordingly, a risk ofleakage of information to the outside can be reduced, and powerconsumption of the receiver 12 can be reduced.

According to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, ashielding member 100 covers the inside of an image output apparatus,thereby limiting the transmission of information to the outside of theapparatus.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an image output apparatus according tothe fifteenth embodiment. Constituent elements having the sameconfigurations as those of the image output apparatus according to theeleventh embodiment are designated with like reference signs, and theirexplanation is omitted. According to the fifteenth embodiment, anopenable and closable platen cover 114 that presses the document 30 isdisposed in the image reader 11.

An operator sets the document 30 to a predetermined reading position ina state that the platen cover 114 is open. After the document 30 is setto the predetermined reading position, the operator closes the platencover 114 to sandwich the document 30 between the image reader 11 andthe platen cover 114, and presses the start button.

FIG. 18 is a cross section of the image output apparatus according tothe fifteenth embodiment. In FIG. 18, the platen cover 114 in a closedstate. When the platen cover 114 is closed, the inside of the imageoutput apparatus is covered by the shielding member 100 that interruptsa radio wave. According to the fifteenth embodiment, the receiver 12 andthe RFID chip 20 are shielded from the outside of the apparatus with theshielding member 100. The receiver 12 and the RFID chip 20 communicatewith each other within the electrically shielded space.

When the start button is pressed, the receiver 12 receives informationfrom the RFID chip 20 by radio communication. The receiver 12 and theRFID chip 20 communicate to each other in a state that the platen cover114 is closed. The shielding member 100 shields the radio wavetransmitted from the RFID chip 20, so that the radio wave does not reachthe outside of the apparatus.

As explained above, according to the fifteenth embodiment, the imageoutput apparatus shields the inside of the apparatus with the shieldingmember 100. Therefore, even when the RFID chip 20 transmits a radio waveinside the apparatus, reception of the radio wave from the RFID chip 20at the outside of the apparatus can be prevented, and leakage ofinformation to the outside can be prevented.

According to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, in orderto prevent occurrence of crosstalk inside the apparatus, the shieldingmember 100 is provided between the receiver 12 and the RFID chip 20 andthe image output unit 14. Constituent elements having the sameconfigurations as those of the image output apparatus according to thefifteenth embodiment are designated with like reference signs, and theirexplanation is omitted.

FIG. 19 is a cross section of an image output apparatus according to thesixteenth embodiment. The image output unit 14 accommodates members suchas the RFID chip 21 attached to the output medium 40 having apossibility of crosstalk with the receiver 12. According to thesixteenth embodiment, the image output apparatus has the shieldingmember 100 provided between the receiver 12 and the image output unit14, in order to prevent a radio wave transmitted from the receiver 12and a radio wave transmitted from the RFID chip 20 attached to thedocument 30 from reaching a member having a possibility of crosstalkaccommodated in the image output unit 14.

An operator sets the document 30 to a predetermined reading position ina state that the platen cover 114 is open as shown in FIG. 17. After thedocument 30 is set to the predetermined reading position, the operatorcloses the platen cover 114 to sandwich the document 30 between theimage reader 11 and the platen cover 114, and presses the start button.

When the start button is pressed, the receiver 12 receives informationfrom the RFID chip 20 by radio communication. During communication, thereceiver 12 and the RFID chip 20 transmit radio waves. However, theshielding member 100 shields the radio waves transmitted from thereceiver 12 and the RFID chip 20. Therefore, it is possible to preventthe radio waves transmitted from the receiver 12 and the RFID chip 20from reaching the image output unit 14.

As explained above, according to the sixteenth embodiment, the shieldingmember 100 prevents the radio waves transmitted from the receiver 12 andthe RFID chip 20 from reaching the image output unit 14. Therefore,crosstalk inside the apparatus can be prevented.

According to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention, an imageoutput apparatus outputs data received from an external apparatus, andwrites information concerning the output image to the RFID chip 21attached to the output medium 40. At the time of writing the informationto the RFID chip 21, leakage of the information to the outside isprevented. According to the eleventh to the sixteenth embodiments, animage that reflects the electronic information received from the RFIDchip 20 attached to the document 30 is output, thereby forming ahigh-definition image on the output medium 40. According to theseventeenth embodiment, information concerning the output image iswritten into the RFID chip 21 attached to the output medium 40 so thatthe obtained output can be similarly used at the next stage.

As shown in FIG. 10, according to the seventeenth embodiment, the imageoutput apparatus 10 includes the image processing unit 13 that receivesinformation from the external apparatus 70 and forms image data foroutput, the image output unit 14 that outputs an image based on theimage data, the writing unit 122 that writes the information received bythe image processing unit 13 from the external apparatus 70 into theRFID chip 21, and the medium storage 17 that accommodates the outputmedium 40. The medium storage 17 accommodates the output medium 40attached with the RFID chip 21 into which information can be written byradio communication.

According to the seventeenth embodiment, a file prepared by the externalapparatus 70 such as a personal computer is output. The image processingunit 13 receives image information of the image output from the externalapparatus 70.

The writing unit 122 writes information concerning the output image intothe RFID chip 21 attached to the output medium 40. The informationconcerning the output image can include electronic information of theoutput image, information indicating location of the electronicinformation, information concerning an image processing method andcolors used for output, and logs concerning the output such as an outputtime, a place, an operator who outputs the image, and a number of sheetsof output paper.

FIG. 20 is a cross section of an image output unit 14 according to aseventeenth embodiment. In FIG. 20, a state that the output medium 40 isconveyed to below the writing unit 122 after an image is formed on theoutput medium 40 is shown. The surface of the writing unit 122 otherthan the surface that faces the output medium 40 is covered with theshielding member 100. By partially covering the writing unit 122 withthe shielding member 100, the writing unit 122 is provided withdirectivity toward the RFID chip 21 attached to the output medium 40.

The operation of the image output apparatus according to the seventeenthembodiment is explained next. As shown in FIG. 10, the image processingunit 13 receives image information from the external apparatus 70 suchas a personal computer, and forms image data for output. The imageoutput unit 14 conveys each part of the output medium 40 from the mediumstorage 17, and outputs the image data received from the imageprocessing unit 13.

The output medium 40 is attached with the readable and writable RFIDchip 21 beforehand. The writing unit 122 transmits a radio wave to theoutput medium 40 to which the image is output, and writes informationconcerning the output image into the RFID chip 21 attached to the outputmedium 40. Because the writing unit 122 has directivity toward the RFIDchip 21, information transmitted from the writing unit 122 can bewritten into the RFID chip 21 while preventing leakage of theinformation to the outside. After the information is written into theRFID chip 21, the output medium 40 is conveyed to the outside of theapparatus.

As described in detail above, according to the seventeenth embodiment,the writing unit 122 is partially covered with the shielding member 100,thereby providing the writing unit 122 with directivity toward theinformation writing position. Therefore, information transmitted fromthe writing unit 122 can be written into the RFID chip 21 attached tothe output medium 40 while preventing leakage of the information to theoutside. When the output image is to be used as a document, ahigh-definition output can be obtained by reading the information fromthe RFID chip 21 attached to the output and reflecting the readinformation to the output image. Accordingly, an added value of theoutput to be used at the next step can be increased.

An eighteenth embodiment of the present invention is a modification ofthe seventeenth embodiment. A communication distance of the writing unit122 is limited to prevent a radio wave transmitted from the writing unit122 from being received at the outside of the image output apparatus.

According to the eighteenth embodiment, a communication distance of thewriting unit 122 is set short. The communication distance of the writingunit 122 is preferably 1 millimeter to a few centimeters.

As explained above, according to the eighteenth embodiment, by limitingthe communication distance of the writing unit 122, reception of a radiowave at the outside of the apparatus can be prevented, and leakage ofinformation to the outside can be prevented. Further, power consumptionof the writing unit 122 can be reduced.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an image input apparatus according to anineteenth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 22 is avertical cross section of an image reader in the image input apparatusshown in FIG. 21. The image input apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 21 includesthe image reader 11 that reads image information from the document 30,the receiver 12 (hereinafter, also referred to as “information readingunit 12”) that receives necessary information by communicating with theRFID chip 20 attached to the document 30 and reads this information, andthe image processing unit 13 that converts the information read by theinformation reading unit 12 into data as image input information.

As shown in FIG. 22, the image reader 11 shown in FIG. 21 includes anillumination lamp 1100 that illuminates the document 30 mounted on acontact glass, a first mirror 1101 that reflects a document image, asecond mirror 1102 that reflects an image reflected from the firstmirror 1101, a third mirror 1103 that reflects an image reflected fromthe second mirror 1102, an imaging lens 1104 that forms the imagereflected from the third mirror 1103 onto an imaging surface of animaging unit, and a CCD 1105 as the imaging unit that converts the imagesignal on the imaging surface into an electric signal. A first runningunit 1106, which is formed by the illumination lamp 1100 and the firstmirror 1101, and a second running unit 1107, which is formed by thesecond mirror 1102 and the third mirror 1103, scan the document 30 whilemoving together toward a reading direction (a right direction in FIG.22), thereby reading the whole image from the document.

According to the image input apparatus 10 of the present invention, theinformation reading unit 12 communicates with the RFID chip 20 attachedto the document 30, thereby obtaining necessary information. The RFIDchip 20 according to the present embodiment has a radio communicationfunction and a memory that store information. The RFID chip 20electronically holds information, and non-contact transmits theinformation according to electromagnetic inductance. The RFID chip 20 isprepared according to a known technique. As shown in FIG. 4, the RFIDchip 20 includes the coil 201 as an antenna, a capacitor 202constituting a line connector (LC) oscillation circuit (or an LCresonant circuit) together with the coil 201, the power source 203, adecoder 204, an encoder 205, a switch 206, a communication controller207, and the memory 208.

The RFID chip 20 operates as follows. When a radio wave of a constantfrequency is given from the outside, a current is induced in the coil201, and a charge is accumulated into the power source 203. By usingpower obtained from the charge accumulated in the power source 203, thecommunication controller 207 reads information stored in the memory 208.The encoder 205 encodes the read information, and transmits a radio wavefrom the antenna of the coil 201 by turning ON/OFF the switch 206. Thememory used in the RFID chip 20 can be any one of a read-only memory anda readable-writable memory. A semiconductor memory is used for thememory 208 in this embodiment.

In general, a communication distance of the RFID chip is determinedbased on a frequency of a radio wave. A low-frequency radio wave has along communication distance, and a high-frequency radio wave has a shortcommunication distance. A low-frequency RFID chip has a large occupancycapacity and its cost is high. However, because a maximum communicationdistance is 10 meters, the low-frequency RFID chip is suitable forremote-controlled communication. On the other hand, a high-frequencyRFID chip has a short communication distance of 1 millimeter to a fewcentimeters. Because a total size of the high-frequency RFID chip can bemade small, the chip has a small occupancy capacity and can be processedin a sheet shape, which can lower cost. According to the nineteenthembodiment, the high-frequency type RFID chip 20 having a communicationdistance of a few millimeters at most is used. This takes into accountfacts that crosstalk can be prevented, that power consumption is small,and that the RFID chip can be configured very small. Particularlybecause the RFID chip can be made compact, this is suitable forattachment to a sheet object (such as paper).

Electronic information stored in the RFID chip 20 attached to thedocument 30 can be read based on the following methods, by bringing theRFID chip close to the information reading unit 12, as shown in FIG. 21or FIG. 22. A first method is that a position of the information readingunit 12 in the image input apparatus 10 is specified in advance, and theRFID chip 20 is brought closer to this part. A second method is that theinformation reading unit 12 is provided at a position where theinformation can be obtained from the RFID chip 20 simultaneously withthe reading of the image from the document 30 with the image reader 11.The image processing unit 13 converts the electronic informationobtained from the RFID chip 20 into data as image input information.

According to the nineteenth embodiment, the electronic informationstored in the RFID chip 20 attached to the document 30 is image datastored in a JPEG file or a BMP file, or electronic information generallyused in a PDF file or an HTML file. This RFID chip 20 stores electronicdata of document information in the above format, or electronic data ofinformation attached to the document information.

In reading the image from the document 30 with the image reader andconverting the image into digital data, as shown in FIG. 2, the CCD 52first converts the image of the document 30 into analog data via theimaging lens 51 of the image reader. The A/D converter 53 then convertsthe analog data into digital data. However, because the imaging lens 51and CCD 52 are used to read the image, the quality of the electronicinformation obtained after converting with the A/D converter 53 isdegraded due to a physical factor of MTF characteristic. According tothe nineteenth embodiment, the electronic data of the documentinformation is stored into the RFID chip 20 of the document 30. Withthis arrangement, the information reading unit 12 can directly obtainthe electronic data of the document information. Accordingly, there isno influence of the physical factor of the MTF characteristic.Consequently, degradation in the quality of the electronic informationcan be prevented.

Further, according to the nineteenth embodiment, when electronic data ofinformation to be added to the document 30 is stored into the RFID chip20 of the document, the configuration of the document can be known inadvance by reading this information with the information reading unit12. Therefore, the information can be read always in an optimum readingcondition.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of an image processing unit when informationto be added to document information is already stored in an RFID chip.As shown in FIG. 23, the image input apparatus according to thenineteenth embodiment operates as follows. In order for the imageprocessing unit 13 to optimize the image processing of the documentinformation read by the image reader 11, the information reading unit 12reads the configuration information stored in the RFID chip 20 attachedto the document 14, and transmits the read information to the controller150. The controller 150 provides the image processing unit 13 with theread configuration information based on an instruction from an operationdisplay 151. The image processing unit 13 processes the image based onthis configuration information. The image output unit 14 outputs theprocessed optimized document information.

As shown in FIG. 23, the image processing unit 13 includes the I/F 131,an image separation character/half tone dot/chromatic/achromaticprocessor 132, a scanner gamma ray correction processor 133, a filtercolor correction processor 134, a reduce/enlarge processor 135, a createprocessor 136, a write gamma ray correction filter processor 137, and avideo output controller 138.

The I/F 131 supplies the document information read by the pre-stageimage reader 11 to both the image separation character/half tonedot/chromatic/achromatic processor 132, and the scanner gamma raycorrection processor 133. The image separation character/half tonedot/chromatic/achromatic processor 132 determines about half tone dotsof a character or a picture, and determines about chromatic color orachromatic character. The scanner gamma ray correction processor 133corrects concentration characteristics of a reading system.

The filter color correction processor 134 carries out a filtering tored, green, and blue (RGB) signals input from the scanner gamma raycorrection processor 133, and converts the filtered RGB signals intocyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) signals, thereby correcting colors.

The reduce/enlarge processor 135 reduces/enlarges the image inhorizontal and vertical directions, and the create processor 136 carriesout a repeat processing in the next image processing.

The write gamma ray correction filter processor 137 converts thegradation of the document information from the create processor 136using a gradation conversion table, and outputs a converted result tothe video output controller 138.

As shown in FIG. 6, when it is necessary to submit a copy of thedocument 30 to third party in a business meeting, for example, documentinformation is processed by deleting the confidential information 31contained in the document 30, and output the information on a sheet ofpaper.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 23, the image reader 11 reads thedocument 30, and at the same time, the information reading unit 12obtains the additional information (electronic information) stored inthe RFID chip 20 attached to the document 30. This electronicinformation is used to specify a position of the confidentialinformation 31 described in the document. The image processing unit 13obtains both the document information from the image reader 11 and theadditional information of the document stored in the RFID chip 20 fromthe information reading unit 12. The image processing unit 13 preparesdocument information which excludes only the confidential information 31from the document information based on the position information of theconfidential information, and outputs the document information from theimage input apparatus. As explained above, the image-processed documentinformation is transmitted to the image output unit 14, and is outputfrom this unit. With this arrangement, the document 40 which excludesthe confidential information 31 (deletion area 41) can be output easily.

When the image reader 11 reads the document 30, the information readingunit 12 obtains the electronic information from the RFID chip 20attached to the document 30, at the same time. This is an instance thatthe electronic information stored in the RFID chip 20 is the additionalelectronic information. For example, the image processing unit 13combines the document information obtained from the image reader 11,with the additional electronic information (the image data, and theelectronic data of the document) obtained from the RFID chip 20 by theimage reader 12, and the image input apparatus can output the combinedinformation. As examples of the additional data, there is value-addedconfidential information 31, and image information added withadvertisement.

When plural pieces of data are stored in the RFID chip 20 as explainedabove, it is necessary to select which data is to be used. According tothe nineteenth embodiment, the image input apparatus has the controller150 that selects the electronic data from the RFID chip 20 received bythe information reading unit 12, as image input information to the imageprocessing unit 13, as shown in FIG. 23.

The image reader 12 of the image input apparatus reads all informationstored in the RFID chip 20, and transmits this information to thecontroller 150. A user can select data according to needs from the dataread from the RFID chip 20 using the operation display 151, and can usethe selected data for image input data to the image processing unit 13.

Accordingly, in order to obtain high-definition image input data, onlythe electronic information of the document stored in the RFID chip 20 isused, or only confidential information or a combination of theconfidential information and the electronic information of the documentis used. In this way, the user can freely select data from theinformation stored in the RFID chip 20.

Highly confidential information can use a condition that authenticationinformation input from the outside must coincide with authenticationinformation stored in advance in the RFID chip 20. When the two piecesof authentication information do not coincide with each other, theinformation cannot be read or information cannot be added. Security canbe improved in this way.

FIG. 24 is a schematic of an image input apparatus according to atwentieth embodiment of the present invention. According to thetwentieth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, the image input apparatusincludes an information reading unit/writer 161 having an informationwriter 160 that can rewrite the information stored in the RFID chip 20attached to the document 30, in addition to the information reading unit12 that reads the information stored in the RFID chip 20. Configurationsof the image processing unit 13, the controller 150, and the operationdisplay 151 are the same as those according to the above embodiments,and therefore, they are assigned with like reference numerals and theirexplanation is omitted.

As explained above, according to the twentieth embodiment, because theinformation writer 160 is provided, the information stored in the RFIDchip 20 can be deleted or rewritten. Particularly, highly confidentialinformation can use a condition that authentication information inputfrom the outside must coincide with authentication information stored inadvance in the RFID chip 20, like in the nineteenth embodiment. When thetwo pieces of authentication information do not coincide with eachother, the information cannot be read or information cannot be added.Security can be improved in this way.

According to the twentieth embodiment, an RFID chip is attached toliteratures in a library, for example. The information readingunit/writer 161, which includes the information reading unit 12 and theinformation reading unit 160, shown in FIG. 24 is disposed near thecontact glass of a copying machine, thereby electronically updating acounter of the RFID chip at the time of copying a literature. By simplyreading a count value added to the RFID chip of each literature,frequency of utilizing the copying machine can be checked. When a numberof making copies can be added to the counter of the RFID chip, thenumber of copies can be recorded, although the utilization frequency is“1” when plural copies are made from the same page. When date and timeof making a copy, a place, and authentication information of an operatorcan be added in addition to the number of copies, literatures can beeasily managed in detail. For example, unauthorized copying of aconfidential literature can be prohibited.

A configuration of an image input apparatus according to a twenty-firstembodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to FIG.5, where the image output apparatus 10 is substituted by the image inputapparatus 10. According to the twenty-first embodiment, as shown in FIG.5, when the capacity that can be stored in the RFID chip 20 is madesmall, the RFID chip 20 can be made smaller, and cost can be lowered. Inorder to minimize the memory capacity of the RFID chip, only informationthat indicates location of electronic information to be stored isrecorded in the memory of the RFID chip 20. The image input apparatus 10also includes the communication controller 15 as a communicationcontroller that is connected to a network to control communication, inorder to be able to locate the electronic information in the HDD 16within the image input apparatus 10 or the computer or the serverconnected to the network.

According to the twenty-first embodiment, the network has the followingconfiguration. As shown in FIG. 5, the image input apparatus 10 isconnected to the LAN 62 via the communication controller 15. The LAN 62is connected with a personal computer or the other storage 64, and otherimage input apparatus (not shown). The LAN 62 is connected to theInternet 61, and the external server 63 is connected to the Internet 61.

According to the twenty-first embodiment, the image input apparatusfurther includes the communication controller 15 and the HDD 166 asshown in FIG. 5. When the location of the electronic information islimited to the HDD 16, the communication controller 15 is not necessary.When the location of the electronic information is limited to thenetwork such as the LAN 62 and the Internet 61, the HDD 16 is notnecessary. However, to cope with both situations, the image inputapparatus has both the communication controller 15 and the HDD 16.

The operation of the image input apparatus 10 is explained next. Asshown in FIG. 5, when the image reader of the image input apparatus 10reads the image of the document 30, the image reader 12 at the same timecommunicates with the RFID chip 20 to read the location information ofthe electronic information stored in the RFID chip 20. When the locationinformation indicates the location in the external server 63 on theInternet 61, the communication controller 15 accesses the externalserver 63 via the LAN 85 and the Internet 61, and obtains thecorresponding electronic information. Based on this, the imageprocessing unit 13 processes the document information, thereby obtainingimage input information having an added value.

When the read location information indicates the location in the HDD 16as a local large-capacity memory, the communication controller 15accesses the HDD 16, and obtains the electronic information stored inthe corresponding address. Based on this, the image processing unit 13processes the document information, thereby obtaining image inputinformation having an added value.

As explained above, according to the twenty-first embodiment, only thelocation information is stored into the RFID chip 20. Because the RFIDchip has only a small memory capacity, the RFID chip can be made compactand its cost can be lowered. Particularly, because the informationvolume can be small when only the location information is stored, pluralpieces of information can be stored easily in the RFID chip.

Because actual electronic information can be stored in the server or theHDD which the location information in the RFID chip indicates, there isno limit to the information volume.

The location information stored in the RFID chip can indicate locationsother than the server and the HDD. For example, the electronicinformation can be stored and displayed in the personal computer orother storage 64 or other image output apparatus (not shown) connectedto the LAN 62, or in a personal computer connected to the Internet 61.

FIG. 25 is a cross section of an image forming apparatus having an imageinput apparatus according to a twenty-second embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 25, a copying machine is used for the imageforming apparatus. The image scanner 11 is disposed above the copyingmachine. The printer 14 is disposed below the copying machine. Atransparent contact glass 171 that functions as a document table isprovided on an image-reading surface of the image scanner 11. Anopenable and closable platen 172 is disposed above the image-readingsurface. The internal surface of the platen 172, or a part facing thereverse side of the document, has white color. An optical scanningsystem is provided below the contact glass 171.

The optical scanning system includes a first carriage having an exposurelamp 173 and a mirror 174, a second carriage having mirrors 175 and 176,and a light receiving unit having a lens 177 and an image sensor 178.The first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically driven inleft and right directions in FIG. 25 to carry out sub-scanning.According to the optical scanning system, light emitted from theexposure lamp 173 is reflected from the document surface or the internalsurface of the platen 172. This reflection light is incident to theimage sensor 178 via the mirrors 174, 175, 176, and the lens 177.

The image reader 12 shown in FIG. 25 obtains information concerning adocument image read from the image scanner 11, from the RFID chipattached to the document. The image processing unit 13 carries out apredetermined image processing, and inputs the image input informationdata to the printer 14, thereby forming a copy image. In other words,the image input apparatus according to the present invention correspondsto the image scanner 11. An added value can be given to the documentinformation, based on the information from the RFID chip attached to thedocument.

In the meantime, the image writing unit of the printer 14 includes alaser light source 181, a polygon mirror scanner 182, an fθ lens 183, amirror 184, and a dustproof glass 185. The laser light source 181 emitsa laser beam modulated in a binary signal corresponding torecording/non-recording of each pixel of the image to be recorded. Thislaser beam is reflected from the polygon mirror scanner 182, passesthrough the fθ lens 183, the mirror 184, and the dustproof glass 185,and forms an image on the surface of a photosensitive drum 186.

A cleaning belt 187, a charge eliminating lamp 188, a main charger 189,a developing unit 190, a transfer belt 191, and a transfer charger 192are provided around the photosensitive drum 186. The main charger 189uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 186 in apredetermined high potential. When a laser beam corresponding to animage is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 186, thesurface potential changes, and a potential distribution that is the sameas the potential distribution of the image is formed according to on/offof the laser beam. When this potential distribution or an electrostaticlatent image passes through the developing unit 190, toners are adheredto the photosensitive drum 186 according to high and low of potentials,thereby forming a visible image.

The transfer charger 192 transfers the visible image (the toner image)formed on the photosensitive drum 186 onto the transfer belt 191. Whentransfer paper fed from a paper feed cassette 193 or 194 is sent ontothe transfer belt 191 via the resist roller 195, the transfer chargers196 and 197 transfer the toner image from the transfer belt 191 onto thetransfer paper. A separation charger 198 separates the transfer paper onwhich the toner image is transferred, from the transfer belt 191, andpasses the paper to between fixing rollers 199 and 200, thereby fixingthe toner image on the transfer paper. The transfer paper passes a paperdischarge route, and is discharged to a paper discharge tray 201.

As explained above, according to the twenty-second embodiment, thecopying machine is used to configure the image forming apparatus havingthe image input apparatus according to the present invention. Therefore,in copying the document attached with the RFID chip, image processingcan be carried out based on the information stored in the RFID chip,unlike conventional copy images prepared by reading the document imageas usual. Accordingly, degradation of image quality due to physicalfactors such as the MTF characteristic or image compression can beprevented. Furthermore, the image information can be more processedeasily by using the electronic information obtained from the RFID chip.Making an unauthorized copy of confidential information can beprevented, by suspending the image reading operation unless two piecesof authentication information coincide with each other.

According to the present embodiment, the document information read bythe image reader is processed, using the electronic information readfrom the RFID chip. The present invention is not limited to the method.Alternatively, the document can be read in an optimum condition, usingthe information read from the RFID chip before reading the documentimage.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the image output apparatus according toa twenty-third embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 27 is avertical cross section of an overall configuration of an internalmechanism of the output image apparatus shown in FIG. 26. As shown inFIG. 26, the image output apparatus 10 includes the image reader 11 thatreads an image from the document 30, the image processing unit 12 thatconverts the image into data to form the image based on the read imagesignal, a paper tray 17 in which sheets of paper 212, as an output imagerecording medium, are stacked so that the sheets of paper are ready tobe supplied, an image forming unit 14 to form the image information ontothe paper, a finisher 210 that carries out a post-processing to thepaper on which the image is formed, and an RFID chip adding unit 211that adds an RFID chip 213 to the paper 212 in the finisher 210. In thiscase, an electro-photographic color laser printer that is generally usedin offices is taken up as an example of the image output apparatus 10.However, a monochromatic laser printer or a printer based on a processother than the electro-photographic system can be also used. A copyingmachine having a document reading unit can be used for the image outputformat. Either a digital or analog document reading system can be used.

As shown in FIG. 27, the image output apparatus 10 includes a documentconveyer 214 that automatically and sequentially conveys the documentonto the contact glass 215, the image reader 11 that optically reads thedocument while scanning the document, the image writer 216 thatprocesses the image signal read by the image reader 11 and writes theimage for each color, an image preparing unit 217 that develops for eachcolor the image written by the image writer 216, an intermediatetransfer belt 218 that superimposes developed toner images together, atransfer unit 219 that transfers the image formed on the intermediatetransfer belt 218 onto paper, a fixing unit 220 that fixes the tonerimage transferred to the paper, a paper feeder 221 that feeds paper tothe transfer unit 219, the RFID chip adding unit 211 that adds the RFIDchip to the paper immediately after the finisher 210 forms the image,and a paper discharge tray 222 that discharges the paper onto which atarget image is formed and to which the RFID chip is given.

The RFID chip 213 given to the paper 212 has a radio communicationfunction and a memory that stores information, like the RFID chip 20shown in FIG. 4. The RFID chip 213 electronically holds information, andnon-contact transmits the information according to electromagneticinductance. The RFID chip 20 shown in FIG. 4 is prepared using a knowntechnique. The RFID chip 20 includes the coil 201 as an antenna, thecapacitor 202 constituting an LC oscillation circuit (or an LC resonantcircuit) together with the coil 201, the power source 203, the decoder204, the encoder 205, the switch 206, the communication controller 207,and the memory 208.

The RFID chip 20 operates as follows. When a radio wave of a constantfrequency is given from the outside, a current is induced in the coil201, and a charge is accumulated into the power source 203. By usingpower obtained from the charge accumulated in the power source 203, thecommunication controller 207 reads information stored in the memory 208.The encoder 205 encodes the read information, and transmits a radio wavefrom the antenna of the coil 201 by turning ON/OFF the switch 206. Thememory used in the RFID chip 20 can be any one of a read-only memory anda readable-writable memory. A semiconductor memory is used in this case.

In general, a communication distance of the RFID chip is determinedbased on a frequency of a radio wave. A low-frequency radio wave has along communication distance, and a high-frequency radio wave has a shortcommunication distance. A low-frequency RFID chip has a large occupancycapacity and its cost is high. However, because its maximumcommunication distance is 10 meters, the low-frequency RFID chip issuitable for remote-controlled communication. On the other hand, ahigh-frequency RFID chip has a short communication distance of 1millimeter to a few centimeters. Because a total size of thehigh-frequency RFID chip can be made small, the chip has a smalloccupancy capacity and can be processed in a sheet shape, which canlower cost. According to the twenty-third embodiment, the high-frequencytype RFID chip 20 having a communication distance of a few millimetersat most is used. This takes into account facts that crosstalk can beprevented, that power consumption is small, and that the RFID chip canbe configured very small. Particularly because the RFID chip can be madecompact, this is suitable for attachment to a sheet object (such aspaper).

The operation of forming the image onto the paper is explained withreference to FIGS. 26 and 27. The image processing unit 12 processes theimage based on the image signal of the document read by the image reader11, thereby converting the signal into color signals of black (BL),yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) that are used to form the image.The color signals are transmitted to the image writer 216.

The image writer 216 includes a laser beam source, a polarizer such as arotary polyhedral mirror, a laser scanning optical system having ascanning imaging optical system and mirrors, a light emitting diode (LEDarray having many LEDs arrayed in one dimension or two dimensions, andan LED writing system having an imaging optical system. Images arewritten onto photosensitive drums of BL, Y, M, and C colors provided inthe image preparing unit 217, corresponding to the respective colorsignals that are sent from four writing optical paths.

The image preparing unit 217 has the photosensitive drums BL, Y, M, andC, corresponding to each color of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan.Usually, an organic photoconductor (OPC) photosensitive unit is used foreach color. A charging unit, an exposing unit of a laser beam from thewriting unit, a developing unit of a corresponding one of black, yellow,magenta, and cyan, a primary transfer unit, a cleaning unit, and anionizer are disposed around each photosensitive drum, which are notdescribed in detail. In this case, a two-component magnetic brushdeveloping system is used for the developing unit.

Before writing an image, the charging unit provided at the upstream ofthe image writing unit 216 of the photosensitive unit charges thesurface of the photosensitive unit at about minus 700 volts. When theimage writing unit optically writes the image onto the photosensitiveunit, the potential of the optical written part disappears, and anelectrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive unit. Then,the electrostatic latent image can be developed at the subsequentdeveloping stage.

The intermediate transfer belt 218 is present between each of thephotosensitive units BL, Y, M, and C, and the transfer unit 219. Eachtoner image of each color from each photosensitive unit is sequentiallytransferred and superimposed, thereby forming a toner manifest imageonto the photosensitive unit. As a transfer method, a charge transferunit that is provided opposite to the photosensitive unit to sandwichthe belt generates a transfer electric field, thereby electrostaticalytransferring the image. After the intermediate transfer belt 218 passesa final image forming unit, a color image having the four color tonerssuperimposed together is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 218.Wile the intermediate transfer belt is used in this example, anintermediate transfer drum system can be also employed based on amachine layout, a required precision level, and a size. When amonochromatic copying machine is used instead of a color copyingmachine, an intermediate transfer unit is not necessary. In this case, atoner image can be directly transferred from the photosensitive unitonto paper.

According to the intermediate transfer belt system according to thepresent embodiment, the transfer paper is fed from the paper feeder 221,and is guided to the secondary transfer unit via a resist roller. Whenthe intermediate transfer belt 218 is brought into contact with asecondary transfer roller, the image is transferred onto the paper,thereby forming a color image.

After the image transfer, the paper is conveyed to the fixing unit 220.A fixing roller gives heat and pressure to the paper to fix the image,thereby obtaining a final color image. After the toner image istransferred from the intermediate transfer belt, the intermediatetransfer belt cleaning unit provided at the downstream of the secondarytransfer position removes residual transfer toner from the intermediatetransfer belt. The image preparing unit 217 then forms the next image.

When images are to be printed on both sides of the paper, after thepaper formed with the image on one side is discharged from the fixingunit, a paper inverting unit inverts the paper. The inverted paper isfed to the transfer unit 219 again, thereby forming an image on thereverse side of the paper. The paper printed on either one side or twosides is conveyed to the finisher 210 to carry out a post processing.

The finisher 210 has a paper folding function, a punching function topunch the paper for filing, a book biding function to combine pluralsheets of paper together, and a collating function to collate paperprepared in advance for a front cover. According to the presentinvention, the finisher 210 has a RFID chip providing function (RFIDchip providing unit 211) that gives a communicable RFID chip to thepaper immediately after printing.

Each one RFID chip is given to each paper separately. The RFID chips aregiven to sheets of paper continuously at a predetermined position ofeach sheet. The user can change this giving position by his/herspecification. For example, when the paper is printed in a verticaldirection, the RFID chip is given to a left upper position on the shortside of the paper, that is, near a print starting position. When thepaper is printed in a horizontal direction, the RFID chip can be givento a left upper position of the long side of the paper, that is, near aprint starting position.

FIG. 28 is a schematic of an RFID chip that is attached on paperaccording to the twenty-third embodiment; and FIG. 29 is a schematic forillustrating an operation procedure for attaching the RFID chip shown inFIG. 28 on paper. As shown in FIG. 28, an adhesive substance 231 iscoated in advance to the surface of the RFID chip 203 that is to beattached to the paper. Therefore, an RFID chip 230 can be easilyattached on paper 234 by simply pressing the RFID chip in an arrowdirection A. The RFID chip adding unit 211 within the finisher 210 shownin FIG. 27 attaches the RFID chip in the order as shown in FIG. 29. Whenthe paper 234 immediately after being formed with an image is sent tothe RFID chip adding unit 211 (shown by an outlined arrow C), the RFIDchip 230 coated with the adhesive in advance 233 is given to a designateposition on the paper 234 (shown by an arrow B). As the paper passesthrough between pressing rollers 235, the RFID chip 230 can be securelyfixed to the paper 234.

The adhesive substance 233 of the RFID chip 230 shown in FIG. 28 is notlimited to that having adhesiveness at a normal temperature, and can bea substance that exhibits adhesiveness in a certain condition. Forexample, a resin substance can be used that is solved to exhibitadhesiveness when heated to a certain temperature but becomes solid andis fixed on paper when cooled. In this case, the pressing rollers 235(shown in FIG. 29) provided in the RFID chip adding unit 211 needs tohave a heater inside to carry out heating and pressing at the same time,like the fixing rollers.

The image output apparatus employing a dry electro-photographic systemusually has the fixer 220 that heats and solves a toner as manifestimage particles and fixes the image on the paper. Therefore, aftertransferring the toner image onto the paper, the RFID chip 230 coatedwith a substance that exhibits adhesiveness by heating is given to adesignated position. The RFID chip can be fixed simultaneously with thefixing of the toner image. In this case, it is not necessary toseparately form the RFID chip adding unit 211 within the finisher 210.Accordingly, cost can be reduced correspondingly.

A substance exhibiting adhesiveness due to a physical stimulus from theoutside such as a light irradiation can be used for the substanceexhibiting adhesiveness in a certain condition. In this case, the RFIDchip adding unit 211 needs to have a mechanism that generates a physicalstimulus corresponding to a substance coated on the RFID chip 230.

As explained above, according to the twenty-third embodiment, the RFIDchip coated with an adhesive substance and capable of carrying outclose-range radio contact is given to a recording medium (such as paper)immediately after being formed with an image. Therefore, the informationstored in the RFID chip can be related to the image formed on therecording medium. Accordingly, the image output apparatus can beprepared in a simple configuration at low cost, without substantiallychanging the existing image output apparatus. Particularly, according tothe twenty-third embodiment, the RFID chip is given to the paperimmediately after being formed with an image. An image forming processof a dry electro-photographic system having a possibility of breakingthe RFID chip due to static electricity is not used. Therefore, reliabledistribution and management of printed matters can be achieved easilyand securely, using the RFID chip attached to the printed matter.

According to a twenty-fourth embodiment of the present invention, anRFID chip is sandwiched between an adhesive sheet member and paper tocover and fix the RFID chip itself with the sheet member, without givingan adhesive substance to the RFID chip like in the twenty-thirdembodiment.

FIGS. 30 and 31 are schematics for illustrating an operation procedurefor attaching the RFID chip on paper using a sheet member. FIG. 32 is avertical cross section cut along a line F-F in FIG. 31 for illustratinga state that the RFID chip is fixed on paper using the sheet member.FIG. 33 is a schematic for illustrating an operation procedure forfixing the RFID chip on paper using a sheet member having a display ofan RFID chip fixing position. FIG. 34 is a schematic for illustrating anoperation procedure for fixing the RFID chip on paper using atransparent or semi-transparent film for a sheet member.

In fixing the RFID chip 230 to the paper 234 immediately after beingformed with an image by using a sheet member 236, the RFID chip 230 isgiven to a designated position (indicated by an arrow D), as shown inFIG. 30. The sheet member 236 having adhesiveness is covered on the RFIDchip 230 as shown in FIG. 31 to sandwich the RFID chip 230 between thesheet member 236 and the paper 234, thereby securely fixing the RFIDchip 230 (see FIG. 32).

When a semi-transparent sheet member is used to cover and fix the RFIDchip as shown in FIGS. 30 to 32, the user may not recognize a positionof the RFID chip when the sheet is large. Particularly, when an RFIDchip of a small size is used, it is necessary to indicate the positionof the chip to carry out a close reading, because a communicable rangeof the RFID chip is limited to a narrow range. According to thetwenty-fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 33, a mark 238 indicating aposition of fixing the RFID chip is drawn on the surface of the sheetmember 237. The sheet member 237 is covered on the RFID chip at theposition of this mark 238, thereby fixing the RFID chip. With thisarrangement, the user can always recognize the position of the RFID chipusing the mark 238. Accordingly, a close reading of the RFID chip can beensured.

Because the sheet member to fix the RFID chip covers at least a part ofthe surface of the image-formed paper, a part of a limited paper surfaceis hidden depending on a position of pasting the sheet member.Accordingly, image information written under the sheet cannot be read.If the printed area is reduced to be limited by the pasting of the sheetmember, there is no point in doing so. According to the twenty-fourthembodiment, as shown in FIG. 34, after the RFID chip 230 is pasted to adesignated position of the paper 234 immediately after being formed withan image, the paper 234 is passed through between laminated film sheets240 in a direction of an outline arrow H, thereby covering the wholepaper 234. Therefore, a fixing position of the RFID chip 230 can beidentified, and the image contents formed on the paper 234 can be readvia the translucent sheet. While a transparent laminated film is usedfor a sheet member 239, the sheet member is not limited to this. Atranslucent sheet can be also used so long as the image contents writtenon the image surface beneath the sheet can be read. While thetransparent sheet member 239 covers the whole surface of the paper 234in FIG. 34, a part of the paper may also be covered with the transparentsheet as shown in FIGS. 33 to 34.

According to the twenty-fourth embodiment, coating of an adhesivesubstance onto the RFID chip like in the twenty-third embodiment or useof the pressing roller 235 (see FIG. 29) to press the paper is notnecessary. As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, a simple configuration that thesheet member 236 is covered on the RFID chip 230 is sufficient.Therefore, the RFID chip adding unit 211 can be configured at low cost.

According to the twenty-fourth embodiment, the fixing position of theRFID chip is displayed as the mark 238 on the surface of the sheetmember 237. Therefore, when the user only recognizes the position of themark 238, close reading of the RFID chip can be securely achieved.

According to the twenty-fourth embodiment, a transparent or translucentsheet, which makes it possible to read the image contents beneath thesheet, is employed for the sheet member to fix the RFID chip. Therefore,this prevents inability of reading the image beneath the sheet orlimiting of the printed area.

The image output apparatus according to the present inventioncommunicates with the RFID chip given to the paper immediately afterbeing formed with an image, and stores and writes information.Therefore, an antenna is necessary to communicate with the outside inaddition to the integrated circuit. When the antenna has a larger area,communication is more stabilized. Therefore, the antenna is preparedseparately from the integrated circuit, and is connected to theintegrated circuit, in many cases. According to a twenty-fifthembodiment of the present invention, a sheet member that fixes the RFIDchip also has an antenna function.

When an antenna is formed on a sheet member that fixes the RFID chiponto paper, the RFID chip and the antenna can be connected togetherwithin the image output apparatus. This lowers cost, and minimizesstorage space.

FIG. 35 is a schematic of a film sheet having an antenna and a sheetmember combined together, with the antenna formed on the sheet memberfor fixing the RFID chip on paper. FIG. 36 is a side view of the filmsheet shown in FIG. 35 viewed from an arrow direction I. As shown inFIG. 35, a sheet 242 that holds RFID chips 243 uses a resin sheet madeof PET (polyethylene telephthalate) or polyester as a base. A thin-filmconductive layer is formed as an antenna 242 on the surface of the resinsheet. The antenna 242 and the RFID chip 243 are combined together usinga conductive adhesive. The conductive layer used for the antenna can beformed on the resin film sheet 241 by printing a conductive paste usinga conductive ink, or by metal depositing or sputtering.

As shown in FIG. 36, an adhesive substance 246 is coated on the surfacewhich is to be pasted on paper. As shown in FIG. 35, a film sheet woundup in a roll 245 is cutoff along cut lines 244 to obtain individual RFIDchips. Each RFID chip is given to a designated position of paperimmediately after being formed with an image. A transparent PET filmsheet 241 has a width of 30 millimeters and a thickness of 50micrometers. A conductive resin layer that becomes the antenna 242 isformed on this film sheet in advance according to an inkjet method or anoffset printing method. Each one RFID chip 243 is electrically connectedto a part of the antenna 242. An adhesive layer 246 is coated on thereverse side of the film. The cutoff lines 244 are formed at an intervalof about 30 millimeters to facilitate separation of each RFID chip. Theroll of film sheet 245 is formed in such a way that the adhesive layer246 faces upward, and is supplied to the image output apparatus in thisstate (see FIG. 37).

The RFID chip is given to paper immediately after being formed with animage, using the sheet member that is formed with the antennas. The RFIDchip can be given according to any one of the following methods. (1)After the RFID chip is given onto paper, the RFID chip is covered with asheet member to fix the chip. (2) At a stage of supplying the RFID chipwithin the image output apparatus, the sheet and the RFID chip areintegrated together in advance. The RFID chip is given, together withthe sheet, onto paper immediately formation of an image. (3) A sheet andthe RFID chip are supplied separately to the image output apparatus. Thesheet and the RFID chip are integrated together within the apparatus inadvance before giving on paper, and are then attached to the paper. Themethod (2) is most simple, and is used in the twenty-fifth embodiment.

As explained above, according to the twenty-fifth embodiment, theantenna which is necessary for the RFID chip to communicate is notformed separately. Instead, the antenna is provided on the sheet memberthat fixes the RFID chip, and both are electrically connected together.Because the antenna is formed at the same time when the RFID chip isfixed, the RFID chip can be provided at low cost. As communicationsensitivity improves, and the antenna storage position can be small, theRFID chip can be handled easily.

According to a twenty-sixth embodiment of the present invention, a radiocommunication unit is provided that can carry out close-range radiocontact with at least one of an RFID chip before given onto paper and anRFID chip after given to the paper. Information stored in the RFID chipcan be read out, or image information obtained from an image outputapparatus can be recorded into the RFID chip according to needs.

FIG. 37 is a schematic for illustrating a mechanism of giving each RFIDchip on paper after forming an image and a finisher used afterward; andFIG. 38 is a schematic for illustrating another configuration of thefinisher shown in FIG. 37. As shown in FIG. 37, this mechanism includesconveyer rollers 250 and 251 that convey the image-formed paper 234 to aleft direction in the diagram, the film sheet 245 (see FIG. 35) wound upin a roll having plural RFID chips to be given on paper, a radiocommunication unit 252 that carries out close-range radio contact withthe RFID chip before being given on paper, a pasting roller 253 thatseparates the film sheet 245 into pieces and pastes each piece of thefilm sheet to the paper 234, a radio communication unit 254 as anaddition confirming unit that carries out close-range radio contact withthe RFID chip after being pasted to the paper 234, and a mark stamp 255provided within the finisher 210 that stamps “invalid document” to thepaper when the radio communication unit 254 confirms that the RFID chipgiven to the paper does not operate normally.

The finisher 210 shown in FIG. 38 can also have shredders 256 and 257having two blades that cut and abandon the document when the radiocommunicating unit 254 confirms that the RFID chip given to the paperdoes not operate normally.

The operation of the mechanism is explained with reference to FIGS. 37and 38. As shown in FIG. 37, when the conveyer rollers 250 and 251convey the image-formed paper 234, the semicircle pasting roller 253makes one rotation in an arrow direction to press and paste the filmsheet 245 to the paper 234 and separates the sheet along a cutoff line.According to the twenty-sixth embodiment, the radio communication 252 isprovided to carry out close-range radio contact with the RFID chip,(notshown) formed on the film sheet 245 before being pasted. This radiocommunication unit 252 can confirm which RFID chip is to be given beforethe film sheet 245 is pasted to the paper 234. For example, each RFIDchip is provided with a unique identification. The radio communicationunit 252 reads this identification code. In order to determine printdata based on this content, information to be printed on the paper isenciphered, and the identification of the RFID chip is used for a codeof this encipher. With this arrangement, each sheet of printed paper hasown code. Decoding is carried out based on information obtained by radiocommunication with the RFID chip. Therefore, confidentiality improvessubstantially. When the radio communication unit 252 that can carry outclose-range radio contact with the RFID chip before being given toprinted paper is used to determine the printed contents, the RFID chipgiven to the paper 234 can have close relation with the printedcontents.

The radio communication unit 254 carries out close-range radio contactwith the RFID chip given to the paper 234 by the pasting roller 253. Theradio communication unit 254 has a function of confirming whether theRFID chip is given correctly to the paper 234. When the paper 234 isoutput in a state that the RFID chip does not operate correctly, RFIDchips that operate properly and the one that do not operate correctlyare mixed together during management and distribution of the document,which makes it impossible to properly manage the document. In order toprevent this problem, the radio communication unit 254 communicates onlyonce with the paper 234 after being attached with the RFID chip, therebyconfirming that there is no problem. This confirmation can be carriedout by not only reading the information from the RFID chip but also bywriting print information into the RFID chip when necessary. When it isconfirmed at this stage that the RFID chip does not operate correctly,the document (the paper 234) needs to be treated as invalid document.According to the twenty-sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 37, the markstamp 255 is provided that stamps “invalid document” to the paper 234that is conveyed from a direction of an arrow J to the finisher 210 ofthe image output apparatus. Therefore, the “invalid document” can bestamped on the paper attached with the RFID chip that does not operatecorrectly. With this arrangement, it is possible to clearly distinguishbetween correct documents and invalid documents, thereby preventingmixture of two types of documents.

According to the twenty-sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 38, theshredders 256 and 257 are provided that cut the document 234 togetherwith the RFID chip conveyed from a direction of an arrow k to thefinisher 210 of the image output apparatus. Paper attached with an RFIDchip that does not operate correctly is abandoned. Therefore, onlycorrect documents can be output. After the document is abandoned withthe shredders 256 and 257, the same document needs to be issued again toavoid omission of the document.

According to the twenty-sixth embodiment, any one of the radiocommunication units 252 and 254 shown in FIG. 37 is used to write theinformation printed on the paper or the information to be printed, intothe RFID chip. For example, when the memory 208 (see FIG. 4) as theinformation storage area within the RFID chip has spare in its capacity,a part or whole of the printed information can be stored in this memory208. More specifically, texts of the printed contents, abstract of theprinted contents, and keywords are stored into the memory within theRFID chip. Based on this, after documents are filed, the filing positionof a target document can be specified.

The memory within the RFID chip can store a classification index, digestof contents, amount of printed information, a decoding key of encipheredprinted contents, printed color information, an author of a printedmatter, and user permission information. With this arrangement, later,information concerning printed document can be obtained easily, withoutoptically reading the document, imaging the document, and converting theinformation into digital data.

At the printing time, the following secondary information, other thanprint information, can be stored into the memory within the RFID chip byradio communication. The memory can store, information about printedpaper, a printer, a communication unit, a print location, print time,image-processed contents, printed positions of a printed matter,complementary information of information that is intentionally droppedfrom the printed information, and a method of enciphering the printedmatter. These pieces of stored information can be used to managedocuments.

As explained above, according to the twenty-sixth embodiment, theattachment of the RFID chip to the image-formed paper has variousadvantages. Based on the provision of the radio communication unit thatcan communicate with the RFID chips that are before and after beingattached to the paper, respectively, the print contents can be relatedto the RFID chips, and correct RFID chips or invalid RFID chips can bechecked in advance. Therefore, the image-formed documents can be managedeasily and securely. Particularly, in outputting the image-formed paper,the RFID chip is given automatically, and in parallel, necessaryinformation can be read or written by radio communication with the RFIDchip. Therefore, documents can be managed more easily, which reduces theload of the user. In offices or the like, RFID chips corresponding toprinted contents can be attached to all documents properly while usersdo not notice this.

While the RFID chip is given to each sheet of image-formed paperaccording to the twenty-sixth embodiment, it is not always necessary togive RFID chip to each sheet of paper. For example, usually a documentincludes plural sheets of paper, and are distributed and managed in abound-up book shape. Therefore, these documents should be managed as abook, in stead of each sheet.

According to a twenty-seventh embodiment of the present invention, oneRFID chip is not given to each of plural sheets of image-formed paperthat are bound up in a book. One RFID chip is automatically given to onebook. Particularly, according to conventional copying machines generallyused in offices, a finisher has a function of binding up plural sheetsof printed paper in a book. A user can freely give an RFID chip to abook using this function, by using the existing apparatus. Therefore,this has an advantage of minimizing cost.

According to the twenty-seventh embodiment, the finisher 210 explainedin the twenty-third embodiment having a book binding function also hasthe RFID chip giving function in addition to the paper binding function.Detailed examples are explained with reference to FIGS. 39 to 53.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that pluralsheets of printing paper are superimposed; FIG. 40 is a perspective viewfor illustrating a state that the RFID chip is given to stacked sheetsof paper by coating a photo-curing adhesive substance to the paper; andFIG. 41 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that the sheetsof printed paper shown in FIG. 40 are bound up in a book. Plural sheetsof superimposed printed paper 260 as shown in FIG. 39 are bound up andfixed by coating an adhesive agent to the end of the sheets of printedpaper 260, as shown in FIG. 40. This book binding method is widely usedat present. An ultraviolet curing adhesive agent (UV curing adhesiveagent) 262 having fast curing speed is coated with a coating roller 261.An RFID chip 263 is embedded into the coated UV curing adhesive agent262. An ultraviolet ray lamp 264 is used to irradiate ultraviolet rays265 to the adhesive to cure the adhesive. The RFID chip is integratedwith the bound-up sheets of paper. As shown in FIG. 41, a cover 266 isattached to the paper to form a book. One RFID chip 263 can be given toone book in this way.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view, for illustrating a state that the RFIDchip is sandwiched between the adhesive sheet and the sheets of printedpaper and they are bound up; and FIG. 43 is a perspective view forillustrating a state that the sheets of printed paper shown in FIG. 42are bound up in a book. As shown in FIG. 42, in binding up the sheets ofpaper 260 using an adhesive sheet 270, the adhesive sheets 270 coatedwith an adhesive substance and an RFID chip 263 are prepared in advance.The adhesive sheet 270 covers the end of the printed sheets of paper260, thereby binding up the sheets of paper using adhesiveness of thesheet. The RFID chip 263 can be given and fixed between the adhesivesheet 270 and the paper 260 (shown by an arrow M), at the book bindingtime. Alternatively, the RFID chip 263 and the adhesive sheet 270 areintegrated together within the finisher 210, immediately before givingthe RFID chip, and the adhesive sheet can cover the end of the sheets ofprinted paper 260. With this arrangement, one RFID chip 263 can be givento one book as shown in FIG. 43.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view for illustrating a state before a staplerhaving the RFID chip is pierced into stacked plural sheets of printedpaper; FIG. 45 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that thestapler having the RFID chip is knocked into the sheets of printed paperand the sheets are bound up; and FIG. 46 is a cross section forillustrating a state that the stapler having the RFID chip is knockedinto the sheets of printed paper and the sheets are bound up. As shownin FIG. 44, a stapler 280 is pierced through the sheets of printed paper260 in a direction of an arrow N, thereby forming a book. An RFID chip281 is fixed to the stapler 280 and integrated together in advance. Asshown in FIG. 45, the stapler 280 pierces through the sheets of printedpaper 260 to bind up the paper, and the RFID chip 281 integrated withthe head of the stapler 280 is also integrated with the book at the sametime. FIG. 46 is a cross section of a state that the stapler having theRFID chip is knocked into the sheets of printed paper and the sheets arebound up. While one stapler 280 is used for the binding in FIG. 45,plural staplers 280 are used to form a book. In this case, otherstaplers 280 do not have the RFID chip 281, because one RFID chip 281 issufficient for one book.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view for illustrating a state before a grommethaving the RFID chip is pierced into stacked plural sheets of printedpaper; FIG. 48 is a cross section of a grommet shown in FIG. 47; FIG. 49is a cross section for illustrating a state that the grommet having theRFID chip is knocked into the sheets of printed paper and the sheets arebound up; and FIG. 50 is a cross section of a grommet shown in FIG. 49.Instead of the stapler, a grommet can be used to pierce through pluralsheets of paper. A grommet 290 integrated with an RFID chip 291 is usedin the example shown in FIGS. 47 to 50. A rivet-shaped grommet can bealso used. As shown in FIGS. 47 and 48, a through-hole 292 is formed inthe sheets of paper 260 to pierce the grommet 290 through this hole. Thegrommet 290 is knocked into this hole. As shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, afront end 293 of the grommet 290 after piercing through the sheets ofprinted paper 260 is deformed, thereby binding up the paper 260.

FIG. 51 is a perspective view for illustrating a state before stackedplural sheets of printed paper are bound with a wire having the RFIDchip; FIG. 52 is a perspective view for illustrating a state that thesheets of printed paper are bound together with the wire having the RFIDchip; and FIG. 53 is a cross section for illustrating a state that thesheets of printed paper are bound together with the wire having the RFIDchip. In order to pierce through plural sheets of printed paper, a resinor fiber rope, or a metal wire can be also used. In the example shown inFIGS. 51 to 53, a wire 300 integrated with an RFID chip 301 is used. Asshown in FIG. 51, the wire 300 integrated with the RFID chip 301 isprepared for the sheets of paper 260. As shown in FIG. 52, the wire 300is stitched alternately into the sheets of printed paper 260. As shownin FIG. 53, the wire 300 is stitched alternately into the sheets ofprinted paper 260. At the same time, the wire 300 integrated with theRFID chip 301 is given. The sheets need to have ascertain level ofcross-section and length at the binding portion to mechanically bind thepaper. The antenna is separately necessary for the RFID chip 301. Whenthe antenna has a large area, sensitivity of radio communication isimproved. Because the metal wire 300 is used, this can also function asthe antenna when combined with the RFID chip 301.

As explained above, according to the twenty-seventh embodiment, anadhesive substance, an adhesive tape, or a piercing member is used tobind up sheets of printed paper. One RFID chip is automatically given tothe bound-up paper, in the unit of each book, and the post-processingfinisher of the conventional image output apparatus like a copyingmachine can be used to achieve this function at low cost.

Further effects and modifications can be easily occurred those skilledin the art. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited tothose described above, and therefore, various modifications can beachieved without departing from the scope of the appended claims and thegist of the present invention.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a specificembodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching hereinset forth.

1. An image output apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receivesfirst information from a first radio contact element that performs aclose-range radio contact, wherein the first radio contact element isattached to a document on which an image is recorded; an imageprocessing unit that forms image data of an image to be output from thefirst information; and an image output unit that outputs the image to anoutput medium from the image data.
 2. The image output apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first information is either ofcompressed image data and a portable document format file.
 3. The imageoutput apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising acommunication control unit that transmits and receives information via anetwork, wherein the communication control unit receives contentscorresponding to the first information via the network, and the imageprocessing unit forms the image data from the contents.
 4. The imageoutput apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first information isInternet address information, the communication control unit receives aHyper Text Markup Language file corresponding to the Internet addressinformation via the network, and the image processing unit forms theimage data from the Hyper Text Markup Language file.
 5. The image outputapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a large-capacitystorage medium that stores information, wherein the image processingunit detects second information corresponding to the first informationfrom the large-capacity storage medium, and forms the image data fromthe second information.
 6. The image output apparatus according to claim1, further comprising an image reading unit that reads third informationof the image from the document, wherein the image processing unit formsthe image data from the first information and the third information. 7.The image output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the firstinformation is image information of the image recorded on the document,and the image processing unit compares the first information with thethird information, and when the first information coincides with thethird information, forms the image data from the first information. 8.The image output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the firstinformation is configuration information of the image recorded on thedocument on which the first radio contact element is attached, the imagereading unit reads the third information from the document based on theconfiguration information, and the image processing unit forms the imagedata by performing an image process on the third information based onthe configuration information.
 9. The image output apparatus accordingto claim 6, wherein the first information is information concerning animage corresponding to confidential information in the image recorded onthe document on which the first radio contact element is attached, andthe image processing unit forms the image data after deleting a part ofor a whole image corresponding to the confidential information from theimage recorded on the document.
 10. The image output apparatus accordingto claim 6, wherein the first information is information concerning animage corresponding to confidential information in the image recorded onthe document on which the first radio contact element is attached, andthe image processing unit forms the image data after changing a part ofor a whole image corresponding to the confidential information intounclassified information.
 11. An image output apparatus comprising: areceiving unit that receives first information from a first radiocontact element that performs a close-range radio contact, wherein thefirst radio contact element is attached to a document containing animage and wherein the first information is information that is notrecorded on the document; an image processing unit that forms image datafrom the first information, wherein the image processing unit forms theimage data including the information that is not recorded on thedocument; and an image output unit that outputs an output image to anoutput medium, the output image including the image from the documentand the image data based on the first information.
 12. The image outputapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a writing unit thatwrites information to a second radio contact element that performs theclose-range radio contact, wherein the writing unit writes informationconcerning the image output to the output medium into the second radiocontact element.
 13. An image output apparatus comprising: a receivingunit that receives first information from a first radio contact elementperforms a close-range radio contact; and an image output unit thatoutputs an image to an output medium, wherein the first information isinformation concerning the output medium, and the image output unitdetermines an image output condition based on the information concerningthe output medium and outputs the image according to the outputcondition.
 14. The image output apparatus according to claim 13, whereinthe first radio contact element is attached on a packaging material thatpacks the output medium.
 15. The image output apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the first radio contact element is attached on theoutput medium.
 16. The image output apparatus according to claim 13,further comprising an image processing unit that forms image data of theimage to be output, wherein the image processing unit forms image datafrom the information concerning the output medium with performing animage processing for making the image optimum, and the image output unitoutputs the image based the image data.
 17. The image output apparatusaccording to claim 13, further comprising a writing unit that writesinformation to a second radio contact element that performs theclose-range radio contact, wherein the writing unit writes informationconcerning the image output to the output medium into the second radiocontact element.
 18. The image output apparatus of claim 11, wherein thefirst information comprises at least one of: electronic information ofan image to be added to the document, information concerning a positionto which the electronic information is to be added, and informationindicating the location of the electronic information to be added. 19.The image output apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first informationcontains confidential information.
 20. The image output apparatus ofclaim 11, further comprising an image reader that reads the image fromthe document.